We recently reported the asymmetric ε-regioselective conjugate addition of 2-furfuryl
ketones to nitroalkenes utilizing a thiourea–pyrrolidine organocatalyst, resulting
in good yields and enantioselectivities. In this study, we present a novel approach
for the asymmetric α-regioselective conjugate addition of 2-furfuryl ketones to nitroalkenes
using a thiourea–tertiary amine organocatalyst, which has not been previously documented.
The reactions produced α-regioselective addition products in high yields and with
excellent stereoselectivities. Thus, this work marks the first example of regiodivergent
asymmetric conjugate addition of 2-furfuryl ketones to nitroalkenes.
Keywords
Organocatalyst - Asymmetric - Conjugate addition - Regiodivergent reaction - 2-Furfuryl
ketones - Nitroalkene