Highly Enantioselective and Regioselective Substitution of Morita–Baylis–Hillman Carbonates with Nitroalkanes

A highly enantioselective and regioselective substitution reaction of the Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) carbonates with nitroalkanes catalyzed by a quinidine-derived tertiary amine–thiourea catalyst has been developed. The described method, which is different from most organocatalytic allylic substitutions of the MBH adducts to date, represents a novel approach to regioselectively functionalize the MBH adducts.