Organocatalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines with 3-alkenyl-5-arylfuran-2(3H)-ones

Chem Commun (Camb). 2016 Sep 22;52(78):11708-11711. doi: 10.1039/c6cc06367e.

Abstract

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines and 3-alkenyl-5-arylfuran-2(3H)-ones was developed with 1 mol% thiourea-tertiary amine as the catalyst. A series of spiro[pyrrolidin-3,2'-oxindoles] bearing four consecutive stereocenters, including two vicinal spiro-quaternary chiral centers, were efficiently obtained with excellent results (up to >99% yield, >20 : 1 dr, and >99% ee).