Chiral phosphinothiourea-catalyzed asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of acrylates with aromatic aldehydes

A series of chiral bifunctional phosphinothioureas were synthesized and applied to the enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of aromatic aldehydes with acrylates. In the presence of 8 mol % of organocatalyst 2e, the Baylis-Hillman adducts were obtained in good enantioselectivities and up to 96% yield under mild reaction conditions.