Organocatalytic asymmetric direct Michael addition of aromatic ketones to alkylidenemalononitriles

The asymmetric direct Michael addition of aromatic ketones to highly active alkylidenemalononitriles was investigated by employing a chiral primary amine 9-amino-9-deoxyepicinchonine. In general modest to good enantioselectivities (71–84% ee) could be obtained in acceptable isolated yields (48–85%) for an array of substrates.