Chiral phosphinothiourea-catalyzed asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of acrylates with aromatic aldehydes

A series of chiral bifunctional phosphinothioureas were synthesized and applied to the enantioselective Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of aromatic aldehydes with acrylates. In the presence of 8 mol % of organocatalyst 2e, the Baylis–Hillman adducts were obtained in good enantioselectivities and up to 96% yield under mild reaction conditions.