title: Squaramide-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of malononitrile to chalcones.
abstract: A highly enantioselective Michael addition of malononitrile to chalcones catalyzed by a chiral quinine-derived squaramide catalyst has been developed. This organocatalytic reaction at a very low catalyst loading (0.5 mol%) led to chiral γ-cyano carbonyl compounds in good yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) under mild reaction conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Da-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D047188:Chalcones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D047188:Chalcones; D009570:Nitriles; C000945:dicyanmethane