A Secondary Amine Amide Organocatalyst for the Asymmetric Nitroaldol Reaction of α‐Ketophosphonates

Mild conditions : A secondary amine–amide organocatalyst 1 has been applied in the asymmetric Henry reaction of α‐ketophosphonates. A series of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic α‐ketophosphonates can be converted into the desired α‐hydroxy‐β‐nitrophosphonates in moderate to high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee ) under mild conditions. The mechanism of reaction was investigated by theoretical calculations.