Novel thiourea-amine bifunctional catalysts for asymmetric conjugate addition of ketones/aldehydes to nitroalkenes: rational structural combination for high catalytic efficiency

Org Biomol Chem. 2010 Mar 21;8(6):1275-9. doi: 10.1039/b925962g. Epub 2010 Jan 21.

Abstract

A series of thiourea-amine bifunctional catalysts have been developed by a rational combination of prolines with cinchona alkaloids, which are connected by a thiourea motif. The catalyst 3a, prepared from L-proline and cinchonidine, was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the conjugate addition of ketones/aldehydes to a wide range of nitroalkenes (up to 98/2 dr and 96% ee). The privileged cinchonidine backbone and the thiourea motif are essential to the reaction activity and enantioselectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Cinchona Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Ketones / chemistry*
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Thiourea / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Alkenes
  • Amines
  • Cinchona Alkaloids
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Ketones
  • Proline
  • Thiourea