Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Aminooxindoles: Enantiofacial Selectivity Switch in Bimetallic vs Monometallic Schiff Base Catalysis

A highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric access to 3-aminooxindoles with a tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenter is described. 1-2 mol % of homobimetallic (R)-Ni-2-Schiff base 1 catalyzed the asymmetric amination of 3-substituted oxindoles with azodicarboxylates to give (R)-products in 99-89% yield and 99-87% ee. Reversal of enantiofacial selectivity was observed between bimetallic and monometallic Schiff base complexes, and monometallic (R)-Ni-Schiff base 2c gave (S)-products in 98-80% ee. Transformation of the products into an optically active oxindole with a spiro-beta-lactam unit and a known key intermediate for AG-041R synthesis is also described.