Organocatalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to trifluoromethylated 3-methyleneoxindoles

Abstract

A bifunctional squaramide catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to trifluoromethylated 3-methyleneoxindoles was developed, and a range of trifluoromethyl containing oxindole derivatives were obtained with generally high yields and enantioselectivities. The nitro functionality and oxindole scaffold in the corresponding products are versatile building blocks that readily enable many further valuable transformations.