We report an asymmetric sulfa-Michael reaction of α,β-unsaturated amides and esters
using a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene as the HOMO-raising organocatalyst. We discovered
an interesting correlation between 13C NMR shifts of substrates and ee of their products. More electron-deficient Michael
acceptors afforded higher enantioselectivity.
Key words
N-heterocyclic carbenes - noncovalent catalysis - sulfa-Michael - organocatalysis
- asymmetric synthesis