Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael/Acyl Transfer Reaction between α-Nitroketones and 4-Arylidene- pyrrolidine-2,3-diones

Abstract

An organocatalytic asymmetric Michael/acyl transfer reaction between α-nitroketones and 4-arylidene-pyrrolidine-2,3-diones was reported. Bifunctional thiourea catalyst was found to be effective for this reaction. With 10 mol% of the catalyst, good results were attained for a variety of 1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones under mild reaction conditions.