ASYMMETRIC INDUCTION UNDER HIGH-PRESSURE. MICHAEL ADDITION OF NITROMETHANE TO CHALCONE CATALYZED BY CHIRAL ALKALOIDS

The Michael addition of nitromethane to chalcone was performed at 10 kbar in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral alkaloids such as quinine, cinchonidine, quinidine, chinchonine, brucine, and strychinine. The extent of asymmetric induction reached up to 50 % e.e. with quinidine in toluene.