Hexafluorobenzene: A powerful solvent for a noncovalent stereoselective organocatalytic Michael addition reaction

Abstract

A dramatic enhancement of the diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the nitro-Michael addition reaction organocatalysed by a commercially available α,α-l-diaryl prolinol was disclosed when performing the reaction in unconventional hexafluorobenzene as a medium. DFT calculations were performed to clarify the origin of stereoselectivity and the role of C6F6. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.