title: Catalytic enantioselective Friedel-Crafts/Michael addition reactions of indoles to ethenetricarboxylates.
abstract: [reaction: see text] The Friedel-Crafts reaction is an important reaction for the formation of new C-C bonds. Recently, catalytic enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of alkylidene malonates has been reported. However, the substituents in alkylidene malonates are limited. To explore new substituents such as carboxyl and carbonyl groups, catalytic enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reactions of reactive ethenetricarboxylates and acyl-substituted methylenemalonates 1 were investigated. The reaction of 1 with indoles in the presence of catalytic amounts of chiral bisoxazoline copper(II) complex (10%) in THF at room temperature gave alkylated products in high yields and up to 95% ee. The enantioselectivity can be explained by the secondary orbital interaction on approach of indole to the less hindered side of the 1-Cu(II)-ligand complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nara University of Education, Takabatake-cho, Nara 630-8528, Japan. yamazaks@nara-edu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwata