A lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB)/acetamide-catalyzed Michael addition of less-activated ketones and aromatic nitroolefins has been developed, which is particularly interesting because neither CALB nor acetamide can independently catalyze the reaction to any appreciable extent. This co-catalyst system was applicable to the Michael additions of cyclic and acyclic ketones to a series of aromatic and heteroaromatic nitroolefins. Hydrogen bonds between acetamide and cyclohexanone were confirmed for the observed activation by experimental facts, and new mechanistic insights into CALB/acetamide co-catalysis are presented.