Conjugate Addition of α,α-Disubstituted Aldehydes to Nitroalkenes

Significance

A conjugate addition of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes to nitroalkenes employing a bifunctional thiourea/primary amine catalyst has been developed. Under mild reaction conditions the products are obtained in moderate to good diastereomeric and excellent enantiomeric ratios, while the yields are found to be very good in most cases. The reaction proceeds with a variety of different substrates.