Enantioselective Aza-Henry Reaction with Acyclic Guanidine-Thiourea Bifunctional Organocatalyst

A highly enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of imines with nitromethane was achieved with a reactive guanidine-thiourea bifunctional organo-catalyst affording beta-nitroamines with high enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee). The diastereo- and enantioselective version of this reaction with nitroalkanes also proceeded selectively (up to 99:1 dr with 99% ee).