Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α-Alkylamides.

A catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction directly employing amides as latent enolates has remained elusive because of the resistance of amides to enolization. A direct aldol reaction of α-alkylamides without any electron-withdrawing group harnessed by specific activation of 7-azaindoline amides under soft Lewis acid/Brønsted base cooperative catalysis is reported. Diastereo- and enantioselective coupling with ynals and aromatic aldehydes as well as divergent functional group interconversion of the amide provided expeditious access to a variety of aliphatic and aromatic chiral building blocks.