Synthesis of non-racemic 4-nitro-2-sulfonylbutan-1-ones via Ni(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction of β-ketosulfones.

Functionally substituted sulfones with stereogenic centers are valuable reagents in organic synthesis and key motifs in some bioactive compounds. The asymmetric Michael addition of β-ketosulfones to conjugated nitroalkenes in the presence of Ni(II) complexes with various chiral vicinal diamines was studied. This reaction provides convenient access to non-racemic 4-nitro-2-sulfonylbutan-1-ones with two stereocenters with high yield and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99%). It has been established that the catalytic Michael reaction itself was carried out with high diastereoselectivity, but the Michael adducts may epimerize at the C-2 position at a significant rate. Conditions for the preparation of individual diastereomers were found.