A Highly Selective, Polymer-Supported Organocatalyst for Michael Additions with Enzyme-Like Behavior

A polymer-supported alpha,alpha-diarylprolinol silyl ether displays catalytic activity and enantioselectivity comparable to the best homogeneous catalysts in the Michael addition of aldehydes to nitro-olefins. Above all, the combination of polymer backbone, triazole linker, and catalytic unit confers to it an unprecedented substrate selectivity in favor of linear, short-chain aldehydes.