Cyclen-catalyzed Henry reaction under neutral conditions

A convenient cyclen-catalyzed Henry reaction of aldehydes with nitroalkanes under mild and neutral conditions is reported. This procedure constitutes the first cyclen-catalyzed synthesis of nitroalcohols and is adapted to the condensation of both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with nitromethane in THF at room temperature without addition of stoichiometric amount of the base. A wide range of substrates, β-nitroalcohols, were obtained in moderate to good yields (up to 98%) using this methodology.