Enantioselective Trapping of Oxonium Ylides by 3-Hydroxyisoindolinones via a Formal SN1 Pathway for Construction of Contiguous Quaternary Stereocenters.

An enantioselective Rh(II)/chiral phosphoric acid co-catalyzed three-component reaction via trapping of oxonium ylides with 3-hydroxyisoindolinones by a formal SN1 pathway is described. This reaction allows for the efficient synthesis of isoindolinone derivatives with two contiguous quaternary stereogenic centers in high yields (up to 93%) with excellent enantioselectivities and moderate diastereoselectivities under mild reaction conditions.