An Effective Bifunctional Thiourea Catalyst for Highly Enantio- and Diastereoselective Michael Addition of Cyclohexanone to Nitroolefins

A series of new tunable and bifunctional thiourea catalysts have been synthesized and their catalytic activities are evaluated in the direct Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins. High isolated yields (up to 97%), enantioselectivities (up to 98%) and diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) were obtained under the optimal conditions.