Ag-Carbenoid-Initiated Catalytic Hydration Cascades: Rapid Construction of Functionalized Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes

Remarkable Ag-carbenoid-initiated enone cyclopropanation–hydrolytic fragmentation–competitive 1,2-vs-1,4 addition reaction cascades were uncovered on a range of propargylic esters tethered to cyclohexadienones, leading to the highly efficient and stereospecific construction of densely functionalized bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes under mild conditions.