Substituted proline derivatives as organocatalysts in Michael reaction

Abstract

Chiral, polysubstituted proline esters, obtained via cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides, have been studied as organocatalysts in Michael reaction of aldehydes/ketones and vinylsulphones. Under optimised reaction conditions employing 10 mol% of the catalyst in wet CH2Cl2 yields of the products were generally good while the enantioselectivity varied reaching up to 52%.