Cinchona alkaloid and di-tert-butyldicarbonate–DMAP promoted efficient synthesis of (E)-nitroolefins

The synthesis of nitroolefins from aldehydes and olefins is generally limited by the formation of a mixture of cis and trans compounds. Here we report an alternative, metal-free protocol for the synthesis of β-nitroolefins from arylidinemalononitrile using cinchona alkaloid along with di- tert -butyldicarbonate–DMAP in high yields with total selectivity.