Catalytic asymmetric nitroaldol (Henry) reactions with copper(II)/cyclopropane-based bisoxazoline complexes

Abstract

A series of cyclopropane-based bisoxazolines were synthesized from (R)- and (S)-amino alcohols, and applied to copper-catalyzed enantioselective nitroaldol reactions between nitromethane and various aldehydes. The reactions generated β-hydroxy nitroalkanes in high yields (97%) and with good enantioselectivities (up to 87% ee). The effects of the oxazoline stereocenters constructed in the Henry reactions were also studied.