Organocatalyzed diastereoselective cyclization of β-alkyl nitroolefins with alkylidene malononitriles: new approach to azetidine nitrones and isoxazoles

An organocatalytic domino reaction of β-alkyl nitroolefins with alkylidene malononitriles to give azetidine nitrones with good diastereoselectivities is reported. The in situ -generated nitrones were transmuted into isoxazoles catalyzed by acid.