Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with 2-enoylpyridine-N-oxides catalyzed by glucoBOX-Cu(II) complex

The glucosamine derived glucoBOX-Cu(II) complex was found to be a unique catalytic system for enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with 2-enoylpyridine-1-oxides. A large number of 3-alkylated indole derivatives were prepared using 5 mol% glucoBOX-Cu(II) complex in excellent yields with high enantioselectivity up to 99% ee.