Synthesis 2016; 48(16): 2671-2678
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1562516
special topic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Construction of Polycyclic Fused Pyrrolidines with Three Contiguous Stereocenters via Michael Addition of Vinylmalononitriles to Nitrostyrenes­ Using l-Proline-Derived Thiourea

Manjunatha Vishwanath
Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences Building, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India   Email: vkesavan@iitm.ac.in
,
Muthuraj Prakash
Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences Building, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India   Email: vkesavan@iitm.ac.in
,
Poopathy Vinayagam
Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences Building, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India   Email: vkesavan@iitm.ac.in
,
Venkitasamy Kesavan*
Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences Building, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India   Email: vkesavan@iitm.ac.in
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 31 May 2016

Accepted after revision: 22 June 2016

Publication Date:
29 July 2016 (online)


Abstract

The catalytic efficiency of a bifunctional chiral thiourea derived from l-proline was evaluated in the asymmetric direct vinylogous Michael reaction of α,α-dicyanoolefins to β-nitrostyrenes with an electron-releasing or electron-withdrawing substituent in various positions. The corresponding adducts were isolated in good yields, with excellent diastereo- (>99%) and enantioselectivity (up to 95%). The Michael adducts were further functionalized to achieve the synthesis of polycyclic fused pyrrolidines with three contiguous stereocenters in good enantioselectivities.

Supporting Information