Synthesis of nonracemic polysubstituted cyclohexanes through cascade reactions of (2R,3S)-2-Acetyl-3-aryl-4-nitrobutanoates, adducts of Ni(II)-catalyzed michael addition

Stereoselective synthesis of ethyl-4,6-diaryl-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-nitro-3-formylcyclohexanecarboxylates was described. The formation of the asymmetric site of the required configuration is achieved by an enantioselective Michael addition of ethyl acetoacetate to nitroalkenes in the presence of a chiral Ni(II) complex with (R,R)-N,N′-dibenzylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine. Further reaction of the products obtained with cinnamic aldehyde led to the formation of polysubstituted cyclohexanes.