Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael Addition of Pyrazolin-5-ones to Nitroolefins with Bifunctional Thiourea: Stereocontrolled Construction of Contiguous Quaternary and Tertiary Stereocenters

The first organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective Michael addition reaction of 4-substituted-pyrazolin-5-ones to nitroolefins has been developed with a chiral bifunctional thiourea as organocatalyst. A wide variety of desired multi-substituted pyrazolin-5-one derivatives with contiguous quaternary and tertiary stereocenters are smoothly obtained in very good yields (up to 98%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to > 99% ee) and acceptable diastereoselectivities (up to 80:20). This experimentally simple process facilitates the access to various enantioenriched, multiply substituted pyrazolin-5-one derivatives, potential biologically active molecules, starting from readily available starting materials.