Highly enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of N-tosyl imines catalyzed by N,N'-dioxide-Cu(I) complexes

[GRAPHICS] The N,N'-dioxide-Cu(I) complexes have been developed to catalyze the addition of nitromethane to N-tosyl aldimines. The aza-Henry reaction proceeds smoothly affording the corresponding nitro amines in good yields with high enantioselectivities. A catalytic cycle is proposed to explain the origin of reactivity.