Bifunctional organocatalysts for the enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral isoquinoline N-oxides.

Bifunctional catalysts bearing amino and urea functional groups have been applied for a novel, highly enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral isoquinoline N-oxides, which are promising chiral ligands or organocatalysts in organic synthesis. This is the first example of highly enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls by bifunctional organocatalysts. Good-to-excellent enantioselectivities were obtained with a range of substrates.