One-Pot Asymmetric Synthesis of Quaternary Pyrroloindolones through a Multicatalytic N-Allylation/Hydroacylation Sequence

An intramolecular, quaternary carbon center forming hydroacylation of alpha-substituted acrylates has been discovered. This interesting transformation can be readily incorporated into a multicatalytic tandem process enabled by a combination of nucleophilic tertiary amine and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. With no additional stoichiometric base required, this transformation affords the quaternary pyrroloindolones with high levels of enantioselectivity.