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A readily available chiral cyclohexanediamine-derived bifunctional tertiary amine-squaramide catalyst is more effective for the asymmetric dearomative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-nitrobenzofurans and N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines. A range of structurally diverse spiro-fused polyheterocyclic compounds containing oxindole, pyrrolidine, and hydrobenzofuran motifs were smoothly obtained in excellent results (up to 99% yield, >20:1 dr in all cases and up to 99% ee). This method features high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, exquisite asymmetric induction, wide functional group tolerance, great potential for scale-up synthesis, and attractive product diversification., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

A novel enantioselective Michael addition of malononitrile to trans-β-nitroolefins in the presence of bifunctional amine thiourea organocatalyst is developed. The Michael reaction catalyzed by amine thioureas containing both central and axial chiral elements proceeded smoothly and provided the desired adducts with high yields (up to 96% yield) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 83% enantiomeric excess)., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)