Construction of vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereocenters by catalytic asymmetric alkylation reaction of 3-bromooxindoles with 3-substituted indoles: total synthesis of (+)-perophoramidine.

Highly congested vicinal all-carbon quaternary stereocenters were generated via catalytic asymmetric alkylation reaction of 3-bromooxindoles with 3-substituted indoles. These catalytic reactions proceeded in excellent yields with a broad scope on either reaction partner, and with outstanding diastereo- and enantiocontrol. The newly developed method led to the total synthesis of (+)-perophoramidine in a highly efficient manner.