A small library of C 1-symmetric chiral diamines (L1− L9) was constructed via condensing exo-(−)-bornylamine or (+)-(1 S, 2 S, 5 R)-menthylamine with various Cbz-protected amino acids. Among them, ligand L1/CuCl2· 2H2O complex (2.5 mol%) shows outstanding catalytic efficiency for Henry reaction between a variety of aldehydes and nitroalkanes to afford the expected products in high yields (up to 98%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ...