Recyclable Chiral Bifunctional Thioureas Derived from [60]Fullerene and Their Use as Highly Efficient Organocatalysts for the Asymmetric Nitro-Michael Reaction

Three novel fullerothioureas derived from natural valine, phenylalanine, and tert-leucine have been prepared by Prato's reaction of [60]fullerene and the corresponding aldehydes. These hybrids have been used as organocatalysts in a typical stereoselective nitro-Michael addition reaction under homogeneous and neat conditions. The catalysts are easily recoverable by filtration, and are recyclable for at least five times. The addition products were obtained in excellent yields and stereoselectivities by using catalyst loadings of as low as 0.5 mol-%.