Highly enantioselective Henry reaction catalyzed by a new chiral C < inf > 2 < /inf > -symmetric N,N′-bis(isobornyl)ethylenediamine-copper complex

Abstract

A new chiral C2-symmetric N,N′-bis(isobornyl)ethylenediamine-copper complex is found to be an efficient catalyst in the enantioselective Henry reaction between nitromethane and various aldehydes to provide β-hydroxy nitroalkanes with high chemical yield (up to 95%) and high enantiomeric excess (up to 90%). © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.