Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2026

Preparation of 6-aminocyclohepta-2,4-dien-1-one Derivatives via Tricarbonyl(tropone)iron
Published on: August 12, 2019
Enantioselective Michael addition catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids
1Organic Catalysis Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. szollosi@chem.u-seged.hu
Abstract:
Enantioselective Michael additions of cyclic beta-ketoesters to methyl vinyl ketone catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids were studied. The results revealed that the induced enantioselectivity was significantly influenced by both the structure of the catalyst and that of the substrate. Interesting differences in the effect of the structure of the alkaloid on the enantioselectivity of this reaction in the case of three beta-ketoesters were discovered. High enantioselectivities were obtained in the reaction of ethyl 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate and ethyl 2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate (up to 83 and 80%, respectively) at a low cinchona:reactant ratio of 1:500. As the specific rotations of the product enantiomers were unknown, they were determined by optical rotation and chiral GC measurements and verified by NMR experiments.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Conjugate Addition of Enolates: Michael Addition
Cyclohexenones via Michael Addition and Aldol Condensation: The Robinson Annulation
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Aryldiazonium Salts: Aromatic SN1
In the Sandmeyer reaction, for example, the diazonio group is replaced by a chloro, bromo, or cyano...
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Addition–Elimination (SNAr)
The reaction begins with an attack of the nucleophile on the carbon that holds the leaving group. This results in the delocalization of the π electrons over the ring carbons. The resonance interaction between the...
Conjugate Addition (1,4-Addition) vs Direct Addition (1,2-Addition)
Conjugate addition results in a thermodynamically stable product. The reaction retains the stronger C=O bond at the expense of the weaker C=C π bond. The process is slow as the β carbon is less electrophilic than the carbonyl carbon.
Direct addition products are formed faster owing to...

