Abstract Novel bifunctional organocatalysts bearing both a thiourea moiety and an imidazole group on a chiral scaffold were synthesized and applied to the Strecker synthesis and nitro- Michael reaction. The addition of acetone to nitroolefins in the presence of these novel bifunctional organocatalysts gave enantioselectivities (up to 87% ee) that are superior to those generated by the proline and/or homo-proline tetrazole catalysts described in the ...
