Asymmetric organocatalytic Michael addition of Meldrum's acid to nitroalkenes: Probing the mechanism of bifunctional thiourea organocatalysts

Abstract

The asymmetric Michael addition of Meldrum's acid to nitroalkenes was studied using a novel type of Cinchona alkaloid-based bifunctional thiourea organocatalyst. The functionality of the thiourea catalysts was also probed by preparing and testing thiourea-N-methylated analogues of the well-known bis-(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-substituted catalyst. © ARKAT USA, Inc.