Organocatalytic Asymmetric Addition of Naphthols and Electron-Rich Phenols to Isatin-Derived Ketimines: Highly Enantioselective Construction of Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters

A quinine-derived thiourea organocatalyst promoted the highly enantioselective addition of naphthols and activated phenols to ketimines derived from isatins. The reaction afforded chiral 3-amino-2-oxindoles with a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99%ee). To the best of our knowledge, this transformation is the first highly enantioselective addition of naphthols to ketimines.