Trifunctional organocatalyst-promoted counterion catalysis for fast and enantioselective aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions at ambient temperature

Abstract

Fast and enantioselective aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions between electron-deficient or electron-rich aromatic N-tosyl imines and methyl vinyl ketone were achieved at ambient temperature using asymmetric counterion-directed catalysis promoted by trifunctional organocatalysts with a Brønsted base as the activity switch after protonation with benzoic acid.