High pressure mediated asymmetric henry reaction of nitromethane with carbonyl compounds catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids

Asymmetric nitroaldol reactions, catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid, of nitromethane have been investigated. High pressure played an interesting role in the overall reactions that form β-nitro alcohols. From the enantiomeric states of the products formed under different reaction conditions, we deduce that the nature of transition termolecular species formed by the carbonyl compounds with quinidine or quinine determines the stereoselective outcome of the reaction under high pressure.