Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-chlorooxindoles bearing adjacent quaternary-tertiary centers.

A new methodology was developed for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 3,3-disubstituted 3-chlorooxindoles 3 via a Michael addition of 3-chloroxindoles to nitroolefins 2, catalyzed by chiral squaramide 10. Products with adjacent quaternary-tertiary centers were isolated in excellent yields (up to 99%), high diastereoselectivities (up to 11:1), and enantiomeric purities (up to 92%). This is the first example where 3-chloroxoindoles 1 have been used as nucleophiles in a highly stereoselective organocatalytic reaction.