Chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of C3-substituted indoles to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketimino esters.

A highly enantioselective C2 Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of 3-substituted indoles to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketimino esters has been developed. This reaction was efficiently catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. The corresponding C2-substituted indole derivatives, bearing an α-ketimino ester motif, were obtained in moderate to high yields (up to 93%) and with high enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).