Just mix to get six: Sixcontiguousstereocenters, including one quaternary stereocenter, and three CC bonds are created by a new copper‐catalyzed tandem reaction (see scheme). Rigid chiral diamine ligands enabled this asymmetric tandem reaction to proceed with excellent stereoselectivity (complete diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity) and high yield under mild reaction conditions.
Diastereo- and Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of α-Ketoesters to Nitroalkenes Catalyzed by a Chiral Ni(OAc)<sub>2</sub> Complex under Mild Conditions
A highly efficient, catalytic, diastereo- and enantioselectiveconjugateaddition of alpha-ketoesters to nitroalkenes has been devised. The reaction was applicable to various substrates. Notably, the combination of endogenous and exogenous bases was effective, allowing a small amount of the catalyst (0.1-1 mol % Ni) to promote the reaction efficiently. The synthetic utility of this reaction was demonstrated
As a part of our research project on hard anion-late transition metal complexes as mild acid-base catalysts, we describe herein that Cu-II hydroxo complexes having chiral N-substituted-diaminocyclohexanes are mild and selective catalysts, which are applicable to the catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of alpha-keto esters to nitroolefins. The reaction proceeded diastereoselectively without the detectable formation of self-aldol products, affording the corresponding coupling products with anti-stereochemistry in an enantioselective manner. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.