Chiral Primary Amine Catalyst Research Articles

Highly Asymmetric Michael Addition to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones Catalyzed by 9-Amino-9-deoxyepiquinine

In Scheme 2 of this Communication, structure 1 c was shown incorrectly. The correct structure of this chiral primary amine catalyst is shown below.1

Indole Alkylations of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones

An organocatalytic enantioselective Michael-type Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles 2 with α,β-unsaturated alkyl ketones 1 is reported. The unsaturated ketones 1 are activated as iminium ions, using a chiral primary amine catalyst derived from natural cinchonine. The desired products 3 are obtained in moderate to good enantioselectivities.