Organocatalytic Asymmetric Cyanosilylation of Nitroalkenes

5 páginas, 1 figura, 5 esquemasNew catalyst, new reaction: The unprecedented cyanosilylation of nitroalkenes can be efficiently catalyzed by a bifunctional quinine derivative with tetraalkylammonium cyanide and thiourea moieties. The activation of the nitroalkene by hydrogen bonding to the thiourea, together with the presence of an “active” cyanide, provides a new mode of activation that leads to products in high yields and good selectivities (see scheme).We thank BayerCropScience, the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (grants CTQ2007-00290 and CTQ2007-60244), and the Junta de Andalucía (grants 2008/FQM-3833 and 2009/FQM-4537) for financial support.Peer reviewe