Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric benzylation of 3-aryl oxindoles.

Herein we report palladium-catalyzed asymmetric benzylic alkylation with 3-aryl oxindoles as prochiral nucleophiles. Proceeding analogously to asymmetric allylic alkylation, asymmetric benzylation occurs in high yield and enantioselectivity for a variety of unprotected 3-aryl oxindoles and benzylic methyl carbonates using chiral bisphosphine ligands. This methodology represents a novel asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation between a benzyl group and a prochiral nucleophile to generate a quaternary center.