Chiral 2-aminobenzimidazole bifunctional organocatalysts: effect of di-CF3 and TFA on catalytic mechanisms

(S,S)-trans-Cyclohexanediamine-5,7-di-CF3-benzimidazole (3b) was developed as a new chiral bifunctional organocatalyst and successfully applied to Michael addition of diethyl malonate to nitroolefins (up to 99%, 98% ee) under neutral condition. Systematic investigation on the catalytic mechanism revealed that the role of the guanidine moiety and the dimethylamine moiety in catalysts might be reversed with respect to Brønsted/Lewis acidic or basic functionalities, depending on the reaction conditions (neutral or TFA co-catalyst). Generally, di-CF3 group substituted 2-aminobenzimidazole catalysts in neutral condition and non-substituted 2-aminobenzimidazole catalysts in co-catalyst (TFA) condition give high chemical yield and enantioselectivity.