Experimental Section 3.1. 1HMe 2a 15999424-MeMe 2b 15999935-MeMe 2c 15999746-MeMe 2d 24991754-ClMe 2e 17999265-BrMe 2f 7226847HEt 2g 4286928HBu 2h 4267699H4-ClC6H4 2i 724879 Open in a separate windows a Reactions were carried out with 2-acylpyridine (Table 2, 2 and 8). To gain some insight into the mechanism, the ESI-MS studies of the mixture of Ni(OAc)2/L2 (1:1.1) and 1a were carried out (Number 2, for more details, see supplementary materials). The spectrum displayed ions at 1179, 1316, 1453, 1590, which corresponded to C1-C4 (Number 3). This confirms the unique properties of the electron-pairs of of L2 and of product 2a. Open in a separate window Number 5 The proposed operating model. 3. Experimental Section 3.1. General Info Commercial reagents were used as purchased. NMR spectra (600 MHz, Bruker, Karlsruhe, Germany) were recorded in the deuterated solvents as stated, using residual non-deuterated solvent signals as the internal standard. High resolution mass spectra were recorded having a Bruker Solari XFT-ICR-MS system. The enantiomeric extra ((2a), brown Kv3 modulator 2 oil, 99% yield, 94% = 6.4), 7.45C7.42 (m, 2H), 7.37C7.35 (m, 1H), 5.35 (d, 1H, = 11.1), 4.82 (d, 1H, = 11.2), 1.79 (s, 3H). = +57 (0.9, MeOH) [lit. [40] = +48 (0.9, MeOH) in 86% (2b), brown solid, 99% yield, 99% = 6.6), 7.20 (s, 1H), 7.17 (d, 1H, = 6.7), 5.47 (d, 1H, BNIP3 = 11.0), 4.73 (d, 1H, = 10.9), 2.42 (s, 3H), 1.81 (s, 3H). = +156 (0.4, MeOH) [lit. [40] = +41 (0.9, MeOH) in 84% (2c), brown solid, 99% yield, 97% = 10.9), 4.73 (d, 1H, = 10.9), 2.37 (s, 3H), 1.80 (s, 3H). = +181 (0.4, MeOH) in 97% [ lit. [40] = +60 (0.6, MeOH) in 81% (2d), brown solid, 99% yield, 17% = 10.9), 4.73 (d, 1H, = 11.0), 2.58 (s, 3H), 1.80 (s, 3H). = +21 (0.4, MeOH) in 17% [ lit. [40] = +109 (0.9, MeOH) in 55% (2e), brown solid, 99% yield, 92% = 6.9), 7.45 (d, 1H, = 2.9), 7.41 (s, 1H), 7.36 (dd, 1H, = 6.9, = 2.8), 5.40 (d, 1H, = 11.5), 4.85 (d, 1H, = 11.5), 1.80 (s, 3H). 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) 150.6, 141.1, 134.9, 126.0, 125.4, 80.0, 72.4, 23.0. HRMS (ESI): Calcd [C8H10ClN2O4]+ [M + H]+: 233.0324 (Cl35), 235.0300 (Cl37), Found 233.0323, 235.0290. = +52 (0.5, MeOH); HPLC (CHIRALPAK AD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 75/25, circulation 1.0 mL/min, detection at 254 nm) tr = 6.0 min (major) and tr = 14.2 min (minor). (2f), brownish solid, 26% yield, 84% = 1.9), 7.57 (dd, 1H, = 8.6, = 1.8), 7.32 (d, 1H, = 8.6), 5.39 (d, 1H, = 11.4), 4.80 (d, 1H, = 11.3), 1.79 (s, 3H). = +48 (0.3, MeOH) [lit. [40] = +74 (0.9, MeOH) in 89% (2g), brown solid, 86% yield, 92% = 6.4), 7.46C7.44 (m, 2H), 7.38C7.36 (m, 1H), 5.31 (d, 1H, = 11.4), 4.97 (d, 1H, = 11.4), 2.28C2.22 (m, 1H), 2.12C2.05 (m, 1H), 1.09 (t, 3H, = 7.4). = +64 (0.4, MeOH) [lit. [40] = +63 (1.2, MeOH) in 81% (2h), brown solid, 67% yield, 69% = 6.5), 7.47C7.43 (m, 2H, J = 12.3), 7.37C7.35 (m, 1H), 5.28 (d, 1H, = 11.5), 5.02 (d, 1H, = 11.4), 2.20C2.15 (m, 1H), 2.03C1.98 (m, 1H), 1.65C1.59 (m, 1H), 1.46C1.41 (m, 1H), 1.0 (t, 3H, = 7.4).13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) 148.2, 139.7, 126.9, 124.6, 124.5, 78.2, 73.8, 36.2, 15.1, 13.2. HRMS (ESI): calcd for C10H14N2NaO4+ [M + Na]+: 249.0846, found 249.0840. = +67 (0.3, MeOH); HPLC (CHIRALPAK IA column, hexane/2-propanol = 85/15, circulation 0.8 mL/min, detection at 254 nm) tr = 16.2 min (major) and tr = 19.2 min (minor). (2i), brownish solid, 48% yield, 79% = 6.3), 7.55 (dd, 1H, = 8.1, = 1.8), 7.46 (t, 1H, = 7.7), 7.43C7.41 (m, 2H), 7.39C7.36 (m, 3H), 5.44 (d, 1H, = 12.7), 5.12 (d, 1H, = 12.7). = +50 (0.2, MeOH) [lit. [40] = +55 (0.7, MeOH) in 90% em ee /em ]; HPLC (CHIRALPAK AD-H column, hexane/2-propanol = 80/20, circulation 1 mL/min, detection at 254 nm) tr = 13.4 min (major) and tr = 17.9 min (minor). 4. Conclusions We have developed a new mononuclear Kv3 modulator 2 Ni-aminophenol sulphonamide complex for the asymmetric Henry reaction of 2-acylpyridine em N /em -oxides. The simple experimental Kv3 modulator 2 protocol affords numerous optically active pyridine-containing -nitro em tert /em -alcohols in variable yield (up to 99%) with good to superb enantioselectivity (up to 99%). Mechanistic studies suggested that the unique properties of the electron-pairs of em N /em -oxides for complexation with Ni makes the unpredicted mononuclear complex, rather than the previously reported dinuclear complex, the active varieties. Acknowledgments We are thankful for.