Pyrrolidine-based chiral pyridinium ionic liquids (ILs) as recyclable and highly efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions

A novel series of pyrrolidine-based chiral pyridinium ionic liquids (ILs) have been developed by using commercially available (S)-(2aminomethyl)-1-N-Boc-pyrrolidine. These chiral ILs have been found to be recyclable and efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric catalytic Michael addition reactions of ketones to nitroolefins with high yields, high enantioselectivies, and diastereoselectivies. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.