Asymmetric Sulfa-Michael Addition of α,β-Unsaturated Esters/Amides Using a Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene as a Noncovalent Organocatalyst

Abstract

We report an asymmetric sulfa-Michael reaction of α,β-unsaturated amides and esters using a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene as the HOMO-raising organocatalyst. We discovered an interesting correlation between ¹³C NMR shifts of substrates and ee of their products. More electron-deficient Michael acceptors afforded higher enantioselectivity.