Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed direct asymmetric mannich reaction of cyclic C-acylimines with simple ketones: facile access to C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones

A chiral BrOnsted acid-catalyzed direct asymmetric Mannich reaction of simple ketones with cyclic C-acylimines has been established for the synthesis of C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones. In the presence of 5-10 mol% chiral phosphoric acid, a series of 2-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-2-arylindolin-3-ones were obtained in good to high yield with up to 99% ee. The adducts obtained could be readily converted into indolines, tricyclic indolin-3-ones, and tetracyclic tetrahydro-indolo[1,2-a]quinolines by simple modifications.