α-Nitro-α,β-Unsaturated Ketones: An Electrophilic Acyl Transfer Reagent in Catalytic Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts and Michael Reactions.

Herein, we introduce α-nitro-α,β-unsaturated ketones as efficient electrophilic acyl transfer reagents, and they were employed in Friedel-Crafts as well as in Michael reactions. The desired acyl transfer products of these reactions were obtained in high yields with high to excellent enantioselectivities with t-leucine-derived squaramide catalyst under mild reaction conditions. Few applications including a synthesis of the isoxazoline motif have been demonstrated.