Abstract: It is one of the most attractive types of asymmetric synthesis that chiral commpounts are generated under the influence of chiral catalysts. In recent years catalytic asymmetric Michael addition by chiral metal complexes has been recognized as an efficient method for obtaining asymmetric products. In this work we reported that using potassium thiazolidine -2-thione-4-carboxylate [(R)-TTCA·K] as the chiral catalyst, the addition reaction of cyclohexanone with acrylonitrile was carried out and optically active (S)-(+)-2-cyanoethyl cyclohexanone 1 ([α] 20 D=+2.8°, e.e. 19%) and hydrolysis product of 1, (S)-(-)-2-oxocyclohexanepropionic acid 2 ([α] 20 D=-2.95°, e.e. 19%), were obtained. Enantiomeric excess of compound 1 was determined by resolution of (R,S)-2-oxocyclohexanepropionic acid with (-)-quinine. Compounds 1 and 2 were easily racemized at a long time for laying aside and in the presence of dil H₂SO₄ or dil base. When (S)-(+)-2-cyanoethyl cyclohexanone reacts with ethylene glycol in the presence of toluene sulfonic acid as the catalyst the racemic 2-ethylendioxy cyclohexyl propionitrile was obtained. The mechanism of the reaction of cyclohexanone with acrylonitrile would be a complicated catalysis process.

Key words: Chiral catalyst (R)-TTCA·K, (S)-(+)-2-Cyanoethyl cyclohexanone, (S)-(-)-2-Oxocyclohexanepropionic acid