Study of Stereocontrolling Elements in Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Addition Reaction of Vinylindoles with Azlactones

Abstract

DFT studies were carried out to clarify the reaction mechanism and the stereocontrolling elements in the addition reaction of vinylindoles with azlactones catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid. The results suggest that the reaction proceeds via a six-membered transition state that is composed of the vinyl group of vinylindole and the enol moiety of azlactone.

Key words

asymmetric catalysis - DFT calculations - enantioselectivity - mechanistic studies - organocatalysis

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