Organocatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary nitroallylic alcohols combined with simultaneous desymmetrization of prochiral cyclic anhydrides.

This study describes an organocatalytic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary nitroallylic alcohols (2) combined with simultaneous desymmetrization of prochiral cyclic anhydrides (1). The experimental results revealed that enantioselective alcoholysis of 3-substituted glutaric anhydrides afforded hemiesters (3) with high levels of enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in the presence of cinchonidine-derived thiourea catalyst (IV). The highly optical enrichment (up to 95% ee) of (S)-nitroallylic alcohols (2) was recovered.