Catalytic enantioselective addition of thioacids to trisubstituted nitroalkenes

The first example of a catalytic enantioselective addition to and nitronate protonation of trisubstituted nitroalkenes to produce highly enantioenriched products with a tetrasubstituted carbon is reported. Thioacids added in excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities to both activated and unactivated nitroalkenes. The 1,2-nitrothioacetate products can be readily converted in two steps to biomedically relevant 1,2-aminosulfonic acids without loss of enantiopurity.