Asymmetric Michael Additions to Nitroalkenes

The asymmetric conjugate addition of various carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles to nitroalkenes as a tool for the construction of highly functionalized synthetic building blocks is presented. Diastereoselective, substrate-controlled 1,4-additions are also included. Besides auxiliary controlled asymmetric Michael additions, external asymmetric versions employing enantiopure additives, addition-elimination processes with enantiopure leaving groups, and catalytic asymmetric syntheses are described. The use of the highly reactive nitroalkenes as Michael acceptors opens the way to synthetically very useful C−C and C−X bond-forming reactions and subsequent transformations as is demonstrated by various applications. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)