Enantioselective organocatalytic aldol reaction of unactivated ketones with isatins

Enantioselective organocatalytic direct aldol reaction of unactivated ketones with various isatin derivatives was developed using cinchonine based urea ligand employing a noncovalent catalysis mechanism. Using this protocol we can access functionalized 3-alkyl-3-hydroxyindolin-2-ones in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.