Regio‐ and Enantioselective (3+3) Cycloaddition of Nitrones with 2‐Indolylmethanols Enabled by Cooperative Organocatalysis
Tian‐Zhen Li, Si‐Jia Liu, Yu‐Wen Sun, Shuang Deng, Wei Tan, Yinchun Jiao, Yu‐Chen Zhang, Feng Shi
Abstract
Abstract The regio‐ and enantioselective (3+3) cycloaddition of nitrones with 2‐indolylmethanols was accomplished by the cooperative catalysis of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). Using this approach, a series of indole‐fused six‐membered heterocycles were synthesized in high yields (up to 98 %), with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 % ee ) and exclusive regiospecificity. This approach enabled not only the first organocatalytic asymmetric (3+3) cycloaddition of nitrones but also the first C3‐nucleophilic asymmetric (3+3) cycloaddition of 2‐indolylmethanols. More importantly, theoretical calculations elucidated the role of the cocatalyst HFIP in helping CPA control the reactivity and enantioselectivity of the reaction, demonstrating a new mode of cooperative catalysis.