Asymmetric Direct Vinylogous Michael Reaction of Activated Alkenes to Nitroolefins Catalyzed by Modified Cinchona Alkaloids

Abstract

[reaction: see text] The first organocatalytic and asymmetric direct vinylogous Michael reaction that employs the electron-deficient vinyl malononitriles as the nucleophilic species has been reported. The novel transformations exhibit exclusive gamma-selectivity and high diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the addition to nitroolefins, which give the multifunctional products with two vicinal chiral centers.