Proline-derived carboxylic acid as a bifunctional organocatalyst for highly efficient asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroalkenes

Abstract

A novel bifunctional proline amide–carboxylic acid catalyst was used for the highly stereoselective Michael reaction of various aldehydes with different nitroalkenes. This catalyst was easily prepared using commonly available anhydrides and proline linked with a diamine spacer. The asymmetric catalytic Michael reactions afforded high yields (up to 98 %), diastereoselectivities (syn/anti ratio: up to 86:14), and enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee) when 5 mol% of the catalyst is used with N-methylmorpholine as a base in a dichloromethane solvent at room temperature.