An efficient method for the highly diastereoselective synthesis of chiral quaternary center-containing cyclopentenes via a cinchona alkaloid-derived thiosquaramide VIII-catalyzed tandem Michael-Henry reaction of phenacylmalononitriles and nitroolefins was deleveloped. Meanwhile, up to 98% of enantioselectivity was observed. A mechanism involving thiosqaramide-catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition and assisted E2 elimination was proposed based on experimental data and preliminary theoretical analysis (Hartree-Fock calculations).
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