Four chiral monocyclic guanidines were conveniently prepared from substituted ethanediamines and were evaluated as catalysts for Henry reaction of nitromethane with benzaldehyde or isobutanal. Nitroalkanols were produced in high yields with the range of ee from 0% to 34% . The mild reaction conditions together with short reaction time make it an efficient method for the enantioselective synthesis of nitroalkanols.

Key words: BENZALDEHYDE;ETHANEDIAMINE P;GUANIDINES;NITRO COMPOUNDS;METHANE P, NITROALCOHOL