The organocatalytic addition of bis(arylsulfonyl)methane to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and the synthesis of optically-enriched 3-methyl-alkanols

An indirect organocatalytic method for the beta-methylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes that involves the addition of bis(arylsulfonyl)methane catalyzed by prolinol derivatives and further elimination of the chameleonic sulfonyl groups is presented.