A recyclable organocatalyst for asymmetric Michael addition of acetone to nitroolefins

J Org Chem. 2011 May 20;76(10):3872-9. doi: 10.1021/jo2002819. Epub 2011 Apr 5.

Abstract

Based on different chiral diamine skeletons, a series of bifunctional primary amine-thiophosphoramides were synthesized and screened as the catalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition of acetone to both aromatic and aliphatic nitroolefins. Under the catalysis of a thiophosphoramide derived from 1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine, the corresponding adducts were obtained in high yields (up to >99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (97-99% ee) under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalyst could be recovered via simple phase separation and reused at least five times without any loss of both catalytic activity and stereocontrol.