Diarylprolinol Silyl Ether Salts as New, Efficient, Water-Soluble, and Recyclable Organocatalysts for the Asymmetric Michael Addition on Water

Abstract

A novel strategy for the catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins on water has been developed and provided the Michael adducts in excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. A notable feature of these organocatalysts is that they can be recycled for more than six times without a significant loss of catalytic activity and stereochemical control. In addition, the synthetic procedure presented is simple, practical, and environmentally benign.