Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 3-hydroxyl-2-oxindoles via enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of isatins

The enantioselective Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of acrylates to isatins was investigated for the first time, employing bifunctional phosphinothiourea organocatalysts based on chiral cyclohexane scaffold. The 3-hydroxyl-2-oxindole derivatives were obtained in excellent yields with moderate enantioselectivity (up to 69% ee) in the presence of 10 mol % catalyst 1b. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.