Nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate works as catalyst to activate nucleophile precursors in Michael addition reactions. Use of alcohol media is essential for the high catalyticactivation of nucleophile precursors. Catalytic enantioselective reactions using a chiral nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate between dimedone and α,β-unsaturated amide acceptors provide a useful synthetic access to enantiomers of enol