Vinylogous Reactivity of Oxindoles Bearing Nonsymmetric 3-Alkylidene Groups

The gamma-functionalization of oxindoles bearing nonsymmetric 3-alkylidene groups via vinylogous Michael-type addition to nitroolefins was realized. The suppression of the interconversion between the E and Z isomers of the starting oxindoles allowed a site-specific diastereoselective and enantioselective transformation. Specific experiments allowed us to establish the rate-determining step of the reaction and to advance a robust hypothesis for the exclusive formation of an s-cis enolate as the only reactive intermediate.