Lewis acid promoted radical conjugate additions to β-substituted α, β-unsaturated α-nitro esters and amides were investigated. With achiral Lewis acids, there was competition between the desired radical conjugate addition and undesired alkene reduction mediated by Bu3SnH. Zinc Lewis acids provided the greatest amounts of addition products with both substrate classes. Studies with Bu3SnD indicated that the acidic α-stereocenter of the α- ...