Organocatalytic Enantioselective Transfer Hydrogenation of β-Amino Nitroolefins

The asymmetric organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of beta-acylamino and beta-tert-butyloxy-carbonylamino nitroolefins has been successfully realised in excellent enantioselectivities and yields (up to > 99% ee, 97% yield) with a simple thiourea catalyst and a Hantzsch ester as hydrogen source, giving a direct access to enantiomerically pure beta-amino nitroalkanes.