An efficient, asymmetric organocatalyst-mediated conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to unsaturated cyclic and acyclic ketones.

5-Pyrrolidin-2-yltetrazole is a versatile organocatalyst for the asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to enones. Using this catalyst, this transformation requires short reaction times, tolerates a broad substrate scope, and possibly proceeds via generation of an iminium species.