Axially Chiral Guanidine-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Malonates to Nitroalkenes

Significance

Axially chiral guanidine A has been developed as a remarkably active and enantioselective Brønsted base catalyst for the 1,4-addition reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with a variety of aryl and alkyl nitroalkenes. Using this catalyst at 2-5 mol% loading, various types of optically active nitroalkane derivatives of synthetic and biological importance were obtained within 2-15 hours in very high yields and enantioselectivities.