3,3′-bimorpholine derivatives as a new class of organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition

New N-alkyl-3,3 '-bimorpholine derivatives (iPBM) were revealed to be efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric direct Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins and a vinyl sulfone. In these transformations using iPBM, 1,4-adducts were afforded in high yields, with good to high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction could be explained by an acyclic synclinal model.