An Organocatalytic Addition of Nitromethane to Activated Ketimines

Abstract

Abstract We report an organocatalytic addition of nitromethane to aryl α‐ketoester‐derived N ‐tosyl ketimines or isatin‐derived N ‐ tert ‐butyloxycarbonyl ketimines, catalyzed by 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (1–5 mol %). Initial screenings reveal that the reaction with a quinine‐derived bifunctional catalyst, which features a C6 phenolic hydroxy group, achieved up to 71 % ee .