Nitroalkenes as electrophiles in the asymmetric Michael reaction involving chiral imines/enamino esters

Addition of 2-nitropropene to the chiral imine derived from 2-methylcyclopentanone and (S)-1-phenylethylamine furnished the expected Michael adduct. The latter compound was then efficiently converted into (R)-pentalenone through a Nef reaction. Condensation of the enamino ester derived from 2-carbethoxycyclopentanone and (S)-1-phenylethylamine with 1-nitropropene gave with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity the corresponding Michael adduct.