Planar chiral 2.2paracyclophane-based bis(thiourea) catalyst: application to asymmetric Henry reaction

A bis(thiourea) organocatalyst with a planar chiral 2.2paracyclophane backbone has been synthesized and applied to the Henry reaction. The obtained high reactivity and enantioselectivity from the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with nitroalkanes suggested the significant potential of 2.2paracyclophane to serve as the backbone of the organocatalyst.