Organocatalyzed highly stereoselective Michael addition of ketones to alkylidene malonates and nitroolefins using chiral primary-secondary diamine catalysts based on bispidine

Organocatalysts containing primary-secondary diamines based on bispidine have been developed to catalyze the asymmetric Michael addition of ketones to alkylidene malonates and nitroalkenes. The corresponding products were obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) and high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) under mild conditions using either environmentally benign water as the solvent or no solvent.