Yong You

Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,3-Disubstituted Oxindoles Bearing Two Different Heteroatoms at the C3 Position by Organocatalyzed Sulfenylation and Selenenylation of 3-Pyrrolyl-oxindoles

Catalytic asymmetric sulfenylation and selenenylation of 3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles for the synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles bearing two different heteroatoms at the C3 position have been achieved with commercially available cinchonidine as catalyst. A wide range of optically active 3-thio-3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles and 3-seleno-3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles could be smoothly obtained under mild conditions with satisfactory results. The promising applicability of the protocol was also demonstrated by large-scale production.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael/Friedel–Crafts Cascade Reaction of 3-Pyrrolyl-oxindoles and α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes for the Construction of Chiral Spiro[5,6-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrrole-3,3′-oxindoles]

An efficient and unprecedented organocatalytic asymmetric reaction of 3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to generate spirocyclic oxindole compounds was developed. The reactions were catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether and 2-fluorobenzoic acid via an asymmetric Michael/Friedel-Crafts cascade process, followed by dehydration with p-toluenesulfonic acid to afford a wide variety of structurally diverse spiro[5,6-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrrole-3,3-oxindole] derivatives in high yields (up to 93%) and with high to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99:1 dr and 97% ee).

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael Addition of 3-Pyrrolyloxindoles to β-Phthalimidonitroethene for the Synthesis of 3,3′-Disubstituted Oxindoles Bearing Contiguous 3,α,β-Triamino Functionality

An organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition reaction of 3-pyrrolyloxindoles to β-phthalimidonitroethene has been developed with a bifunctional thiourea-tertiary amine as the catalyst. A range of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles bearing contiguous 3,α,β-triamino functionality could be obtained in high yields with good diastereoselectivities and high enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 99:1 dr, and 98% ee). The higher reactivity of β-phthalimidonitroethene compared to the reactivity of ordinary nitroalkenes in the reaction with 3-pyrrolyloxindoles was demonstrated by contrast experiments.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-Trifluoroethylisatin Ketimines with β-Trifluoromethyl Electron-Deficient Alkenes: Access to Vicinally Bis(trifluoromethyl)-Substituted 3,2′-Pyrrolidinyl Spirooxindoles

N-2,2,2-Trifluoroethylisatin ketimines with β-trifluoromethyl enones, 3-trifluoroethylidene oxindole, and 3-trifluoroethylidene benzofuranone can undergo asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition, catalyzed by chiral bifunctional squaramide-tertiary amine catalysts, affording a wide spectrum of 3,2-pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles. The significance of this protocol is highlighted by its extremely high efficiency in the construction of the structurally diverse spirocyclic oxindoles, bearing a vicinally bis(trifluoromethyl)-substituted pyrrolidine moiety, including four contiguous stereocenters, in high yields with excellent stereocontrol.