A New, Readily Available Double-Component System for Asymmetric Henry Reaction

A new, readily available double-component catalytic system for asymmetric Henry reaction has been discovered. The aromatic aldehydes reacted with nitromethane in THF under catalysis of threo-(1S, 2S)-TDMANPCu( OAc)2.H2O system to furnish β-nitro alcohols in good yields and up to 79% ee. This methodology is air-tolerant and easily operative, and the chiral amino alcohol can be conveniently synthesized from inexpensive chiral starting material.