Quinidine thiourea-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of β-nitrophosphonates: Beneficial effects of molecular sieves

Tetrahedron. 2011 Sep 30;67(39):7479-7484. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2011.07.059.

Abstract

An efficient method for enantioselective synthesis of β-nitrophosphonates via the Michael addition of diphenyl phosphite to nitroalkenes using the readily available quinidine thiourea organocatalyst has been developed. The desired β-nitrophosphonates were obtained in good ee values. Molecular sieves were found to be crucial for achieving high reproducible yields in this reaction.