Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,3-Disubstituted Oxindoles Bearing Two Different Heteroatoms at the C3 Position by Organocatalyzed Sulfenylation and Selenenylation of 3-Pyrrolyl-oxindoles

Catalytic asymmetric sulfenylation and selenenylation of 3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles for the synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles bearing two different heteroatoms at the C3 position have been achieved with commercially available cinchonidine as catalyst. A wide range of optically active 3-thio-3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles and 3-seleno-3-pyrrolyloxindoles could be smoothly obtained under mild conditions with satisfactory results. The promising applicability of the protocol was also demonstrated by large-scale production.