Organocatalytic asymmetric nitrocyclopropanation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tetlet.2008.04.162

A novel organocatalytic highly enantioselective nitrocyclopropanation reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The 1-nitro-2-formylcyclopropane derivatives synthesized from this catalytic transformation were converted to the corresponding β-nitromethyl-acid esters, which are excellent precursors of GABA analogues such as Baclofen, by subsequent organocatalytic chemoselective ring-opening.