Chiral Primary Amine Catalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition of Malononitrile to α‑Substituted Vinyl Ketone

The first efficient
and highly enantioselective Michael addition–protonation
reaction of malononitriles to α-substituted vinyl ketones has
been developed by using a chiral primary amine as the organocatalyst.
With a Hantzsch ester as the hydride source, an enantioselective tandem
reduction, Michael addition–protonation reaction of benzylidene­malono­nitrile
has also been achieved with good yields and high enantioselectivities.