The highly enantioselective Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones to nitroalkenes, promoted by binaphthyl-modified chiral bifunctional organocatalysts is described. This reaction afforded the chiral functionalized naphthoquinones in high yields (81-95%) and excellent enantioselectivities (91-98% ee) under low catalyst loading (1 mol %).
Keywords: 1,4-naphthoquinones; Michael addition; asymmetric catalysis; nitroalkenes; organocatalysis.