Enantioselective Aza-Friedel-Crafts Reaction of Indoles with Ketimines Catalyzed by Chiral Potassium Binaphthyldisulfonates

The enantioselective aza-Friedel Crafts reaction of indoles with low-reactive ketimines has been developed in the presence of a chiral monopotassium binaphthyldisulfonate as a strong Bronsted acid catalyst. A broad substrate scope was achieved, and the corresponding 3-indolylmethanamines with a chiral quaternary carbon center were obtained in high yields with high enantioselectivities. The addition of a catalytic amount of acetic acid considerably promoted the reaction, and a gram-scale reaction could be achieved with reduced catalyst loading.