Catalytic asymmetric nitroaldol (Henry) reaction with a zinc-Fam catalyst.

Ferrocenyl-substituted aziridinylmethanol (Fam-1) was used as a catalyst with zinc for the asymmetric nitroaldol (Henry) reaction. This catalyst worked with a variety of aldehydes (aromatic, aliphatic, alpha,beta-unsaturated, and heteroaromatic) and alpha-ketoesters to give the nitroaldol product in up to 97% yield and 91% ee. The chiral ligand can be recovered and recycled without losing its activity.