Bifunctional organic catalysts

A catalyst having the formula (2):

• wherein:
• each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted aralkyl group and an optionally substituted alkaryl group;
• EWG is an electron-withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of groups having the formulae —C(═X)NHR2, —C(═X)R2, —SO2R2 and —C(═X)XR2, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O and S, and wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted cycloalkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted aralkyl group and an optionally substituted alkaryl group;
• R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an optionally substituted (C1-C10)alkyl group, an optionally substituted (C3-C10)cycloalkyl group, an optionally substituted (C6-C10)aryl group, an optionally substituted (C4-C9)heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted (C7-C14)aralkyl group, an optionally substituted (C13-C20)di-aryl-alkyl group and an optionally substituted (C7-C14)alkaryl group, or any two of R3, R4 or R5 on adjacent carbon atoms may together form a methylene chain having the formula —(CH2)m—, wherein m is an integer of from 3 to 5, and wherein at least one of R3, R4 and R5 is not hydrogen;
• and
• n is an integer of from 0 to 3.