Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of 2-Acetyl Azaarenes to β,β-Disubstituted Nitroalkene for the Construction of All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters.

The first highly enantioselective conjugate addition of 2-acetyl azaarenes to α-substituted-β-nitroacrylates was successfully realized under mild conditions by a Ni(II)-bisoxazoline complex, providing the desired adducts bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. The products obtained in this system could be readily converted into optically active β-amino esters, succinates, lactones, and lactams.