A new type of L-Tertiary leucine-derived ligand: Synthesis and application in Cu(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reactions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2019.130469

A new series of Schiff bases derived from amino acids were developed as chiral ligands for Cu(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reactions. The optimum ligand 7d exhibited outstanding catalytic efficiency in the Cu(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry additions of four nitroalkanes to different kinds of aldehydes to produce 76 desired adducts in high yields (up to 96%) with excellent enantioselectivities, up to 99% enantiomeric excess (ee).