Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Spirooxindoles by Oxidative Rearrangement of Indoles
Oxidative rearrangement of indoles to access oxindoles has been used as a key step in complex molecule synthesis. We report a catalytic enantioselective variant of this transformation by chiral phosphoric acid catalysis, providing rapid access to a range of enantioenriched spirooxindoles. The high enantioselectivity is controlled by dynamic kinetic resolution.
Preparation of 1-substituted tetrahydro-β-carbolines by lithiation-substitution
A method to prepare 1-substituted N-Boc-tetrahydro-β-carbolines was developed by lithiation followed by electrophilic substitution. The deprotonation to give the organolithium was optimized by in situ IR spectroscopy and showed that the Boc group rotates slowly at low temperature. The chemistry was applied to the synthesis of 9-methyleleagnine (N-methyltetrahydroharman) and 11-methylharmicine.
Cochrane, Edward J.,Hassall, Lorraine A.,Coldham, Iain