Diastereo- and enantioselective copper-catalyzed intramolecular carboamination of alkenes for the synthesis of hexahydro-1H-benz[f]indoles.

A new method for the enantioselective synthesis of hexahydro-1H-benz[f]indoles is described. This copper-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular alkene carboamination process can install vicinal tertiary and quaternary carbon stereocenters with high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The C-C bond-forming component of the reaction constitutes a C-H functionalization and no electronic activation of the aryl ring that undergoes addition is required. A known 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist was synthesized efficiently using this method.