Highly enantioselective Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes catalyzed by designer chiral BINOL–quinine–squaramide: efficient access to optically active nitro-alkanes and their isoxazole derivatives
A chiral BINOL-quinine-squaramide has been identified as the best catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of nitroalkenes to 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. A series of chiral nitroalkanes were prepared with approximately >99% ee. Furthermore, the methodology was applied successfully to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure isoxazoles derivatives (>99% ee). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.