Fluorous chiral bis(oxazolines): Synthesis and application in asymmetric Henry reaction

A fluorous bis(oxazolines) was synthesized and tested as ligand in Cu-catalyzed Henry reaction of nitromethane to different aldehydes. The process was carried out in ethanol, and the corresponding β-nitroalcohols were obtained in 61-75% yield with enantioselectivities up to 99%. Furthermore, the fluorous ligand can be easily recovered and reused without significant loss in its activity.