Nickel‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition of Acyl Imidazoles to Acrolein or β‐Ester Enones

An enantioselective Michael addition of α‐substituted acyl‐imidazoles to acrolein catalyzed by a nickel‐bisoxazoline complex has been developed. The use of strong Lewis acid TMSOTf as an additive to activate the Michael acceptors proved to be vital to the success of this process. This process tolerates a wide range of acyl‐imidazoles, and a series of conjugate adducts were obtained in high yields and good enantioselectivities. Besides acrolein, β‐ester ennones are also applicable in this process affording the corresponding conjugate adducts in high yields with good diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivites in most cases. The potential utility of the reaction system was confirmed through 2 mmol‐scale reaction and derivatization experiments.