Diphenylprolinol Silyl Ether as Catalyst of an Asymmetric, Catalytic, and Direct Michael Reaction of Nitroalkanes with α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes

A catalytic enantioselective direct conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes using diphenylprolinol silyl ether as an organocatalyst has been developed. Using this methodology as a key step, short syntheses of therapeutically useful compounds have also been accomplished.