Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of 3-Substituted Oxindoles in Water-Rich Solvent

Significance

The authors have developed an enantioselective conjugate addition of 3-arylox­indoles to β-nitrostyrene in the presence of the chiral phase-transfer catalyst (S)-1. Oxindoles are important building blocks in many alkaloids and pharmaceuticals. This highly efficient and selective method provides access to enantiomerically enriched adducts, which can be transformed into the core structure of alkaloids in a few steps with retention of the stereochemistry.