Highly enantioselective Henry reaction catalyzed by a new chiral C2-symmetric N, N′-bis(isobornyl)ethylenediamine–copper complex

Abstract

A new chiral C 2-symmetric N, N′-bis(isobornyl)ethylenediamine–copper complex is found to be an efficient catalyst in the enantioselective Henry reaction between nitromethane and various aldehydes to provide β-hydroxy nitroalkanes with high chemical yield (up to 95%) and high enantiomeric excess (up to 90%).