The catalyst-controlled enantioselective direct addition reaction of enolizable esters and related carboxylic acid derivatives to π electrophiles remains a difficult synthetic transformation. In this study, the suitability of α-hydroxy ketones as ester equivalents capable of being activated by bifunctional Brønsted base catalysts in the context of conjugate addition reactions to nitroolefins is demonstrated. The scope of the reaction, which affords the corresponding Michael adducts with very high stereoselectivity (diastereomeric ratio (d.r.) ≥95:5, up to 99 % enantiomeric excess (ee)), and its limitations are explored, as is the aftermath elaboration of adducts into densely functionalized enantioenriched products.

Various sets of enolizable alkynyl ketones (including methyl ynones with α‐aryl, α‐alkenyl, and α‐alkoxy groups) were able to react smoothly with nitroolefins with the assistance of bifunctional Brønsted base/H‐bond catalysts to provide adducts with two consecutive tertiary stereocenters in a highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective fashion. Further transformation of the obtained adducts into optically active acyclic and polycyclic molecules, including some with intricate carbon skeletons, was also demonstrated.

Here we describe a direct access to 2,2,3-trisubstituted syn γnitroaldehydes by addition of α-branched aryl acetaldehydes to nitroolefins promoted by a cinchona based squaric acid-derived amino acid peptide. Different α-methyl arylacetaldehydes react with β-aromatic and β-alkyl nitroolefins to afford the Michael adducts in high enantioselectivity and syn-selectivity. NMR experiments and DFT calculations predict the reaction to occur through the intermediacy of E-enolate. The interaction between the substrates and the catalyst follows Pápai's model, wherein an intramolecular H-bond interaction in the catalyst between the NH group of one of the tert-leucines and the squaramide oxygen seems to be key for discrimination of the corresponding reaction transition states.