Planar chiral [2.2] paracyclophane-based bis(thiourea) catalyst: application to asymmetric Henry reaction

A bis(thiourea) organocatalyst with a planar chiral [2.2] paracyclophane backbone has been synthesized and applied to the Henry reaction. The obtained high reactivity and enantioselectivity from the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with nitroalkanes suggested the significant potential of [2.2] paracyclophane to serve as the backbone of the organocatalyst.