Asymmetric Ruthenium Catalysis Enables Fluorophores with Point Chirality Displaying CPL Properties

A novel enantiopure pi-allylruthenium(IV) precatalyst allowed the enantioselective and stereospecific allylations of indoles and gave access to indolin-3-ones, containing vicinal stereogenic centers. Facile separation of diastereoisomers exhibiting opposite circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) activities in diverse solvents, including water, demonstrated the potential of these sustainable transformations and of the newly prepared molecules.

Automated summary

A novel enantiopure pi-allylruthenium(IV) precatalyst was used for the enantioselective and stereospecific allylations of indoles, resulting in the synthesis of indolin-3-ones with vicinal stereogenic centers. The separation of diastereoisomers that exhibited opposite circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) activities in various solvents, including water, highlighted the potential of these sustainable transformations and the newly synthesized molecules.