Novel Schiff base ligands derived from Cinchona alkaloids for Cu(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction

A new series of Schiff bases derived from Cinchona alkaloids were developed as chiral ligands for the copper(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction. The optimized catalyst can promote the Henry reaction of both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with nitromethane or nitroethane. Those reactions can afford the chiral β-nitro alcohol adducts with high enantioselectivities.