Diastereoselective Organocatalytic Michael Addition of 2-Arylacetates Having an Electron-Withdrawing Group to Nitroalkenes

The first efficient organocatalytic conjugate addition reaction of 2-arylacetates and 2-arylacetonitriles having an electron-withdrawing group to nitroalkenes has been achieved using a bifuctional amino thiourea catalyst. The reagents having NO2-, CO2Me-, and CN-functional groups on the aromatic ring can be used; the bifuctional catalyst 4i provided Michael adducts in the reaction of various nitroalkenes with broad generality in high yield and diastereoselectivity.