A series of novel chiral bifunctional tertiary amine–thioureas based on spirobiindane were designed and synthesized as organocatalysts. One of these catalysts was shown to promote the asymmetric Michael addition reaction of 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione to nitroolefins, affording the desired products in good yields (up to 95%) and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).
New pyrrolidinyl-oxazole-carboxamides were synthesized and utilized as efficient organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition reaction. In addition, computational mechanistic studies were performed.