Enantioselective addition of nitromethane to alpha-keto esters catalyzed by copper(II)-iminopyridine complexes.

The copper complex of a chiral iminopyridine easily prepared from (R)-(-)-fenchone and picolylamine catalyzes the enantioselective Henry (nitroaldol) reaction between nitromethane and alpha-keto esters. Good yields and modest to good enantioselectivities are obtained for a wide range of alpha-keto esters, bearing aromatic, alkyl or alkenyl groups attached to the ketone carbonyl group.