Merging Visible-Light Photoredox and Chiral Phosphate Catalysis for Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts Reaction with in Situ Generation of N-Acyl Imines.

In the presence of visible-light photoredox and chiral phosphate catalysts, a novel asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles and readily accessible α-amino acid derived redox-active esters is established to afford enantioenriched 1-indolyl-1-alkylamine derivatives in moderate to high yields and with high levels of enantioselectivities. This method not only shows a mild and efficient alternative for the in situ generation of N-acyl imines but also indicates the feasibility of a multicatalyst system for asymmetric photoredox catalysis.