Enantioselective michael addition of malonates to 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides catalyzed by chiral bisoxazoline-Zn(II) complex

An enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides catalyzed by a chiral bisoxazoline-Zn(II) complex has been developed. The corresponding Michael adducts have been obtained in high yields with up to 96% ee. A plausible transition-state model has been proposed to explain the stereochemical outcome of the reaction