Direct asymmetric organocatalytic Michael reactions of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes with β-nitrostyrenes for the synthesis of quaternary carbon-containing products

Direct asymmetric catalytic Michael reactions have been performed using chiral-amine/acid bifunctional catalysts. Performed with 0.3 equiv of (S)-(+)-1-(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine and 0.3 equiv of trifluoroacetic acid as the catalyst, the reaction of alpha,alpha-dialkylaldehydes with (E)-beta-nitrostyrene provided the alpha,alpha-dialkyl Michael products in up to 96% yield with up to 91% ee. With respect to enantioselectivity, L-proline was a poor catalyst of this class of Michael reactions.