Asymmetric Henry reaction catalyzed by Cu(I)-based chiral amino alcohol complex

The Cu(I)-based complex prepared from (S)-2-(furan-2-yl-methylamino)-2-phenylethanol (5c) and CuCl was used as catalyst in enantioselective Henry reactions of arylaldehydes and nitromethane, which gave 89% ee and 95% yield at ambient temperature. The proposed catalytic cycle of an asymmetric Henry reaction was suggested.