One-pot multi-substrate enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to nitroalkenes

A multi-substrate approach is used in the copper-phosphoramidite catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of diethylzinc to nitroalkenes, using up to nine different nitroalkenes in a one pot procedure. The 18 products (9 times 2 enantiomers of nine different nitroalkanes) can be analyzed by chiral CG in a single run since on overlap in the peaks is observed. The obtained enantioselectivities are amongst the highest reported so far for the catalytic 1,4-addition of dialkylzinc reagents to nitroalkenes.