Enantioselective conjugate addition of ketones to β-nitrostyrenes catalyzed by 1,2-amino alcohol-derived prolinamides

Various l-prolinamides 14, prepared from l-proline and chiral β-amino alcohols, are active bifunctional catalysts for the direct nitro-Michael addition of ketones to β-nitrostyrenes. In particular, catalyst 14e prepared from l-proline and (1S,2R)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol exhibits the highest catalytic performance working in polar aprotic solvents such as NMP. High syn-diastereoselectivities (up to 94% de) and good enantioselectivities (up to 80% ee) were obtained at rt.This work has been supported by the Dirección General de Investigación of the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (CTQ2004-00808/BQU), by the Generalitat Valenciana (CTIOIB/2002/320, GRUPOS03/134, GRUPOS05/11 and GV05/157) and the University of Alicante