Quinidine thiourea-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of β-nitrophosphonates: beneficial effects of molecular sieves

An efficient method for enantioselective synthesis of β-nitrophosphonates via the Michael addition of diphenyl phosphite to nitroalkenes using the readily available quinidine thiourea organocatalyst has been developed. The desired β-nitrophosphonates were obtained in good ee values. Molecular sieves were found to be crucial for achieving high reproducible yields in this reaction.