Catalytic Asymmetric Fluorination of Alkyl 1-indanone-2-carboxylates Ruled by Pybox-Eu(III) Combination

A highly enantioselective catalytic method for the synthesis of quaternary alpha-fluoro derivatives of 3-oxo esters is described. The reaction uses europium (III) triflate and commercially available chiral pybox-type C2-symmetric ligand. Excellent results in terms of yields and enantioselectivities were assured using the electrophilic NFSI reagent under mild reaction conditions.