Asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of arylaldehydes with 2-cyclohexen-1-one catalyzed by chiral bis(thio)urea and DABCO.

Novel bis(thio)urea organocatalysts were synthesized from axially chiral (R)-(-)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine (H8-BINAM), and their catalytic abilities have been examined in the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one or 2-cyclopenten-1-one with a wide range of aromatic aldehydes in combination with DABCO. The best result was achieved in the reaction of 3-fluorobenzaldehyde with 2-cyclohexen-1-one to give the desired Morita-Baylis-Hillman product in 79% yield and 88% ee.