Catalytic Asymmetric Michael Reactions of Acetaldehyde

Acetaldehyde, now a big contender: A silyl prolinol derivative was found to catalyze the first Michael addition of acetaldehyde with both aromatic and aliphatic nitroolefins in excellent enantioselectivities (see scheme, TMS=trimethylsilyl). The utility of the reaction is illustrated in the synthesis of three current pharmaceuticals and in the synthesis of an enantiopure 3‐monosubstituted pyrrolidine