Efficient and Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition of Aldehydes to Nitroalkenes Catalyzed by a Surfactant-type Organocatalyst in the Presence of Water
silyl ether organocatalyst bearing a long chain only in 2 mol % loading could catalyze the asymmetric Michael reaction of various aldehydes with trans-nitroalkenes at room temperature in the presence of water, giving the desired adducts in excellent yields with high diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).