Enantioselective synthesis of 2-methyl indolines by palladium catalysed asymmetric C(sp3)-H activation/cyclisation.

The first example of the enantioselective methyl C-H activation by an intramolecular ArPdX species and subsequent cyclisation was developed. Palladium catalysts using commercially available chiral diphosphines yield good ee's (up to 93% ee) in the synthesis of 2-methyl indolines from 2-halo N-isopropyl anilides. This approach was also employed for the synthesis of enantioenriched cyclohexyl fused indolines with moderate enantioselectivities. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011