Synthesis of prolinal dithioacetals as catalysts for the highly stereoselective Michael addition of ketones and aldehydes to β-nitrostyrenes

Catalytic highly enantioselective (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselective (up to 99% de) direct Michael addition of ketones and aldehydes to β-nitrostyrenes have been achieved with readily accessible and highly tunable prolinal dithioacetal catalysts.