New thiourea organocatalysts and their application for the synthesis of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones a source of chiral 3-indoylmethyl ketenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/00397911.2017.1383432

The stereoselective properties of modified thiourea organocatalysts were tested in the Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole with 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones, which produces chiral 5-((1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones. Based on a tentative reaction mechanism for ((S)-N-benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamide organocatalysts, modifications were applied in four selected regions. Systematic structure-stereoselectivity relationship study allowed designing the best efficient organocatalyst for the investigated Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole with 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones.

Full text of DOI:10.1080/00397911.2017.1383432

Synthetic Communications
An International Journal for Rapid Communication of Synthetic Organic
Chemistry
ISSN: 0039-7911 (Print) 1532-2432 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lsyc20
New thiourea organocatalysts and their
application for the synthesis of 5-(1H-indol-3-
yl)methyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones a
source of chiral 3-indoylmethyl ketenes
Ewelina Najda-Mocarska, Anna Zakaszewska, Karolina Janikowska &
Sławomir Makowiec
To cite this article: Ewelina Najda-Mocarska, Anna Zakaszewska, Karolina Janikowska &
Sławomir Makowiec (2017): New thiourea organocatalysts and their application for the synthesis
of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones a source of chiral 3-indoylmethyl
ketenes, Synthetic Communications, DOI: 10.1080/00397911.2017.1383432
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00397911.2017.1383432
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Date: 27 October 2017, At: 03:52

New thiourea organocatalysts and their application for the
synthesis of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-
dioxane-4,6-diones a source of chiral 3-indoylmethyl ketenes
Ewelina Najda-Mocarska
Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
Anna Zakaszewska
Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
Karolina Janikowska
Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
Sławomir Makowiec1
Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
Address correspondence to Sławomir Makowiec, Department of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk
University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland. E-mail: mak@pg.edu.pl
ABSTRACT
The stereoselective properties of modified thiourea organocatalysts were tested in the
FriedelꟷCrafts alkylation of indole with 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones, which
produces chiral 5-((1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones. Based on
1

a
tentative
reaction
mechanism
for
((S)-N-benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-
organocatalysts,
bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamide
modifications were applied in four selected regions. Systematic structureꟷstereoselectivity
relationship study allowed designing the best efficient organocatalyst for the investigated
FriedelꟷCrafts alkylation of indole with 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
KEYWORDS: 1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione, alkylation, heteroaromatic, Meldrum’s acid, thoiurea
organocatalyst
Introduction
Indole derivatives are biologically active compounds. The structural pattern of indole can
be found in an impressive variety of molecules, such as: phytohormones[1], neuro transmitters[2],
anti-inflammatory agents[3], and anticancer medicine[4]. From the perspective of modern
pharmacology, manipulation with serotonin and 5-HT receptors by stimulating with indole
derivatives could be a key in solving problems related to mood, depression, and anxiety
disorders. Therefore, synthesis of serotonin agonists, particularly targeted as selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), can be the center of interest in medicinal chemistry. The derivatives
of homotryptamine[5] and tetrahydrocarbazoles[6] are an interesting group of SSRIs with indole
moiety in molecules. Tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives are also useful for the treatment of human
papillomaviruses (HPV)[7]. The aforementioned tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives can be easily
2

accessible by thermal decomposition of 5-((1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-
dioxane-4,6-dione (Meldrum’s acid derivative) (1) to ketene (2) and by subsequent
intramolecular FriedelꟷCrafts acylation, which lead to the production of 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-
carbazol-1-ones (3). Fillion and co-workers have published a series of research works, which
describes transformation of 2,2-dimethyl-5-benzyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones to useful bioactive 1-
indanones through intramolecular FriedelꟷCrafts acylation[8].
We took a challenge to introduce indole moiety into a derivative of Meldrum’s acid with
simultaneous chiral creation. One of the easiest synthetic method to obtain such a group of
compounds is through the condensation of three components: Meldrum’s acid (4), aldehyde, and
indole[9]. Such an approach allows for subsequent stereoselective course of reaction if an
aldehyde contained a chiral auxiliary[10] (Scheme 2). But, induction of chirality center is a
problem for aldehydes that cannot be functionalized with a chiral auxiliary moiety. We have also
experienced such a problem, therefore we decided to apply chiral organocatalysts. Since we
learned that thiourea organocatalysts are not effective in the three components reaction, we
followed a different approach for the synthesis by using a stereocontrolled reaction between the
indole and the electrophile reagent 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (5)[11]
.
Over the last few decades, organocatalysis has become an indispensable tool in
asymmetric synthesis[12]. One of the most applicable groups of organocatalysts are compounds
containing chiral moiety attached to the thiourea system the Bronsted acid catalyst. From our
point of view, the most interesting application of thiourea organocatalyst is FriedelꟷCrafts
reaction[13] which has been thoroughly studied on many levels[14]. We have focused our research
on the stereocontrolled Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-
dioxane-4,6-diones (5)[15]. As a result of such a process, 5-(aryl(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-2,2-
3

dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones (1), a product with new chiral center can be obtained. The
thermally labile 1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione fragment is a convenient source of ketene, which might
be used for intramolecular acylation leading to the desired derivative of chiral 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-
1H-carbazol-1-ones (3).
Discussion
In the present study, we have focused our research efforts on the modifications of (S)-N-
benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-N,3,3-trimethylbutanamide
organocatalyst (6) (Figure 1) and on their synthetic application for the preparation of our target
chiral 2,2-dimethyl-5-(aryl(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones (1). The parent
structure of the organocatalyst (6) was chosen during the previous study, from among a number
of commercially available catalysts.
To describe the role of catalyst as a working hypothesis, we have assumed the following
reaction mechanism for the stereoselective catalysis that is presented on Scheme 3. Our
hypothesis is supported by the following facts: application of N-methylindole instead of indole
caused decrease of stereoselectivity in preliminary experiments; and the use of organocatalyst (6)
with tertiary amide in the amidic fragment implies only one possible combination of regents.
For systematic study of the relationship between structure and stereoselectivity of
designed organocatalysts, we have specified four regions in the molecule (Figure 2). 1. The
amidic part with the possibility to tune electron density in the phenyl ring R1 and N-substitution
with different R2. 2. The side chain of aminoacid R3, where the size of the group can be changed.
3. The inviolable thiourea system. 4. The R4 aromatic ring with the electron withdrawing group
(EWG), which is also responsible for the acidity of thiourea protons. Most of our modification
4

took place in the first and second fragment of the molecule. For thiourea moiety, only reasonable
modifications should lead to the increase of acidity and hence we tried S- alkylation to achieve
more acidic species, but it was unsuccessful. In the last region of molecule, we tried to make just
one modification by replacing the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl with 1-naphthyl aromatic
system to make a possible stronger π-π interaction.
The approach for the preparation of modified thiourea organocatalysts consisted of a
three-step synthetic path, starting from Boc-protected aminoacid (Scheme 4). In the first step
Boc-AA was activated in the usual manner and coupled with benzyl amines (7a-j). In the
aforementioned step, reduction of racemization is a crucial issue. We tested racemization level
for several approaches suggested in chemical literature for similar synthesis[16]. Mostly, O-
(benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N',N′-tetramethyluronium
hexafluorophosphate
(HBTU),
O-
(benzotriazol-1-yl)- N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) uronium salts, or
the combination of ethyl-(N′,N′-dimethylamino)propylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and 1-
hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) are used for the low racemization procedures. However, we
applied our own modification with the use of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) in the
presence of 1.1 eq. of HOBT hydrate where we observed the lowest level of racemization on the
stage formation (8a-l). After deprotection, the resulting amino amide was treated with
chloroform solution of isothiocyanate (9a-b) to yield final organocatalysts (10a-m). In most
cases, the synthesis had good yields and any significant byproducts, except for the model with
secondary amidic system. In the last step of synthesis of organocatalyst (10a), we observed a
drastic drop in the yield, with simultaneous formation of a significant amount of byproduct.
Analysis of the NMR spectra allows us to propose the structure of byproduct as (S)-3-benzyl-5-
(tert-butyl)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one (11). We have proposed possible mechanism for the
5

formation of the byproduct (Scheme 5). In the basic condition previously formed organocatalyst
undergoes an intramolecular cyclization with the departure of 3,5-bistrifluoroaniline as a leaving
group. A similar process was observed by Walter and co-workers,[17] but with a nucleophilic
attack of thioureido nitrogen of amide carbonyl and with the loss of dimethylamine The
structures and yields of all prepared organocatalysts are presented in Figure 3.
The stereocatalytic effectiveness of the prepared organocatalysts we tested in the reaction
of 5-arylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones with indole in the optimal conditions. We
determined these conditions during our previous researches and hence the process has to be
performed in toluene at 0°C through 168h, with 10% mol of catalyst and 0.04 M concentration of
reagent. For the ee determination of the products, we used previously developed method based
on the formation of diastereoisomeric salts of Meldrum’s acid with (R)-1-phenylethylamine and
measurement of methine proton signals intensity with NMR technique. As testing models, we
chose three representative type of arylidene Meldrum’s acids basic 5-(phenyl)methylene-2,2-
dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (5a) (Z = H), 4-chlorophenyl (5b) (Z = Cl), and 4-nitrophenyl
substituent (5c) (Z = NO2). In the beginning, we decided to check influence of size substituent in
the side chain of aminoacid R3 (second region). We prepared four different organocatalyst
substituted with methyl, isopropyl, iso-butyl and benzyl substituents (10i,j,k,l). We tested their
organocatalytic properties with the use of the standard method. The results are presented in
Table 1 (Entries 10–13). We also have included data for commercially available catalyst that
possess tert-butyl substituent in the second region and was previously tested. The best ee was
obtained for bulky side chain; however, the effectiveness of the catalyst is strongly dependent on
the type of reacting molecules. The most universal substituent appears to be tert-butyl which
allow to obtain high ee independent of the reacting system, however comparable ee could be
6

achieved in some cases with R3 = isobutyl (Entry 12, Z = H). For further experiments, we
decided to use tert-butyl derivatives as they were more predictable and trustworthy. Later, we
decided to check the influence of the substituent in the phenyl ring of the first amidic part of
catalyst. We expected stronger πꟷπ interaction between indole ring and EWG -substituted benzyl
moiety. Thus we prepared a series of organocatalysts with CF3 and NO2 groups in the benzylic
ring. Eventually, we made modification in the nitrogen of the amide moiety; we prepared a series
of organocatalysts with secondary amide to compare their stereospecific properties with N-alkyl
type of catalysts, for instance pairs of catalysts 10a – 6 and 10f-g. In two cases we decided to
introduce extended aromatic system to the molecule, instead of benzylic moiety we introduced 1-
naphthyl – catalysts 10d and we also replaced 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl with 1-naphthyl -
catalyst 100mm (Entry 14). We tested organocatalytic properties of the prepared organocatalyst
with the use of the standard method. The results are presented in the Table 1. We did not observe
simply correlation between EWG in benzylic ring and stereoselective properties of catalyst.
Thus, secondary amide catalysts with EWG groups were found to exhibit better properties than
the unsubstituted one (Entries 1 ver 4, 6, 7) but for tertiary amides substitution withEWG) leads
to catalysts with worse or comparable properties (Entries 2 ver 3, 8). Surprisingly, organocatalyst
10d with 1-naphthyl, instead of benzyl moiety, proved to be even better and was more
independent to the catalyzed system than the commercially available (6) (Entry 5). Whereas, the
replacement of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl with 1-naphthyl caused a dramatic drop in the
stereoselectivity of the catalysts, demonstrating that EWG 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl is
necessary to ensure enough acidity of thiourea protons for binding to substrates. Surprisingly,
application of hexane as a solvent allowed to obtain even higher ee (Entries 1, 2, 3, 8, 9),
unfortunately this solvent cannot by applied for all spectrum of substrates due to poor solubility.
7

In summary, a series of new thiourea organocatalysts were prepared and their
stereoselectivity was tested in the FriedelꟷCrafts alkylation of indole. Modifications comprised
of selected, four most promising sites in the catalyst molecule. Structure and stereoselectivity
studies allowed elucidating structure factors to design the most effective organocatalysts. The
best properties were obtained for (S)-2-(3-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-3,3-
dimethyl-N-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)butanamide 10d with secondary 1-naphthyl amide moiety
and bulky tert-butyl side chain on the central aminoacid.
Experimental
Commercially available reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich or Acros. Toluene
and cyclohexane were distilled from potassium under argon and stored over molecular sieves.
DCM, CCl4, and hexafluorobenzene were distilled over P4O10 and stored over molecular sieves.
Commercially unavailable reagents 2,2-dimethyl-5-arylidene-1,3-dioxa-4,6-diones 2a-f were
prepared according to literature procedures[11]. Analytical TLC was performed on aluminum
sheets of silica gel UV-254 Merck. Flash chromatography was performed using 40-63 microns of
1
13
Zeochem silica gel. The H, C were recorded on Varian Gemini 200 and Varian Unity Plus
500, chemical shifts (δ) in ppm rel. to internal Me4Si; coupling constants J in Hz. High-
resolution (HRMS) was recorded on MicroMas Quattro LCT mass spectrometer. Melting points
were determined with Warsztat Elektromechaniczny W-wa apparatus and are not corrected.
General procedure for the synthesis of tiourea organocatalysts.
To a ice cooled solution of N-Boc-aminoacid (L-tertleucine, L-Leu, L-Val, L-Phe, L-Ala)
1mmol in DCM 10ml, HOBt hydrate (0.153g, 1 mmol) and DCC (0.205g, 1 mmol) was added.
Reaction mixture was stirred at 0°C through 30minutes, and amine 7a-j (2 mmol) was added.
8

Resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 12h and allowed to warm to room temperature. Then a
few drops of acetic acid was added, solvents was removed under reduced pressure. Residue was
dissolved in AcOEt and cooled to 4°C, precipitate of urea was removed by filtration. Organic
phase was washed with aqueous solution of KHSO4 (10%, 20ml) followed by aqueous solution
of NaHCO3 (5%, 20ml) and dried with MgSO4. Solvents were remoed under reduced pressure
and residue was dissolved in 10ml mixture of TFA:DCM (1:1). Progress of N-deprotection was
monitored with TLC. Then mixture of TFA:DCM was evaporated and trifluoroacetate salt was
dissolved in DCM 10ml. To a resulted mixture NEt3 (0.303g, 3 mmol) and chloroform solution
of isothiocyanate 9a,b[18] was added dropwise. After completion of the reaction, the solvent was
removed under vacuum, and the residue was purified with flash column chromatography.
(S)-N-benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-3,3-
dimethylbutanamide (10a)
Purification by flash column chromatography, (EtOAc/Hex, gradient elution 1:5 to 1:3),
(187mg, 38% over two steps). white solid; mp 149-151 °C; [α]D26 = –12.5° (c = 0.4, CHCl3); 1H
NMR (500MHz, C6D6) δ 8.60 (s, 1H), 8.06 (d, J = 9.2Hz, 1H), 7.99 (s, 2H), 7.42 (s, 1H), 6.96-
6.90 (m, 4H), 6.89-6.84 (m, 1H), 5.51 (s, 1H), 5.02 (d, J = 9.2Hz, 1H), 4.08 (dd, J2 = 14.7Hz, J3
= 6.4Hz, 1H), 3.88 (dd, J2 = 14.7Hz, J3 = 5.3Hz, 1H), 0.97 (s, 9H); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100MHz):
δ = 181.9, 172.1, 139.9, 136.2, 131.7 (q, JC-F = 33.3Hz), 128.8, 127. 9, 127.6, 124.2 (m), 123.0
(q, JC-F = 271.1Hz), 118.5 (m), 66.4, 44.2, 35.1, 27.2; HRMS (ESI +): m/z [M + Na] + calcd for
C22H23F6N3OSNa: 514.1364; found: 514.1368
General Procedure for stereoselective preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-5-
(aryl(heteroaryl)methyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones (1a-c, 1a’-c’).
9

To a solution of 2,2-dimethyl-5-arylidene-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione 5a-c (0.2 mmol) in
anhydrous solvent (5ml) (DCM (A), toluene (B), toluene: cyclohexane 1:1 (C), Cyclohexane (D),
CCl4 (E), hexafluorobenzene (F)), at temperature specified in the Table 1, 2 and 3, catalyst 5-15
10% mol was added followed by heteroaromatic compound 2a-f (0.2 mmol). The resulting
mixture was stirred for the time specified in the Table 1, 2 and 3. After completion of the
reaction, the solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue was purified as specified
below.
2,2-dimethyl-5-(phenyl(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (1a, 1a’)[9]
1
Purification by flash column chromatography, (EtOAc/Hex, 1:2), yellow oil; H NMR
(CDCl3, 500MHz): δ = 8.18 (s, 1 H), 7.44-7.35 (m, 5 H), 7.30-7.17 (m, 4 H), 7.08-7.05 (m, 1 H),
5.65 (d, J = 2.0Hz, 1 H), 4.31 (d, J = 2.4Hz, 1 H), 1.71 (s, 3 H), 1.42 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (CDCl3,
125MHz): δ = 165.8, 164.9, 140.0, 136.0, 129.3, 128.6, 127.4, 127.2, 124.4, 122.5, 119.9, 119.3,
115.2, 111.4, 105.4, 52.1, 41.9, 28.3, 28.2.
General procedure for enantiomeric excess determination of 2,2-dimethyl-5-
(aryl(heteroaryl)methyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones (1a-c, 1a’-c’).
To a solution 2,2-dimethyl-5-(aryl(heteroaryl)methyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones (3aa-fe)
10mg in CDCl3 (0,7ml) in 5mm NMR tube, 20 eq of (R)-1-phenylethylamine was added. The
spectrum was acquired through 20min (with 40s relaxation time). Ratio of enantiomers was
determined based on integration of methine protons region.
Funding
10

The project was carried-out within the PARENT-BRIDGE programme of the Foundation
for Polish Science (POMOST/2013-8/6), co-financed from the European Union under the
European Regional Development Fund.
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13

Table 1. Stereoselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole with catalyst 10a-m.
Ent R1 R2 R3
ry
R4
Cat.
Solv. = Toluene; T = 0°C
Solv. =
Hexane; T
= 7°C
Z = H
Z = Cl
Z = NO2
Z = Cl
Yie Rati Yie Rati Yie Rati Yie Rati
oa oa oa oa
ld
ld
ld
ld
[%] 1a:1 [%] 1b:1 [%] 1c:1 [%] 1b:1
’a
’b
’c
’b
77:2
3
1
H
H
3-
H
C
t-
3,5-
10a
89
84
75
82
63:3 54
7
63:3 40
7
61:3 89
9
Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
2b
t-
3,5-
6
68:3 99
2
69:3 81
1
68:3 76
2
78:2
2
H3 Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
3
C
t-
3,5-
10b
10c
56:4 31
4
68:3 67
2
71:2 92
9
72:2
8
CF3 H3 Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
3,5-
4
4-
H
t-
59:4 87
70:3 61
72:2 94
57:4
14

CF3
Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
1
0
8
3
5
CH2
=
H
t-
3,5-
10d
64
65:3 100 72:2 93
74:2 47
6
67:3
3
Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
5
8
CH
CH
=
CH2
6
3,5-
bisC
F3
H
H
t-
3,5-
10e
10f
10g
10h
10i
86
52
61
76
77
51:4 87
9
63:3 71
7
73:2 37
7
64:3
6
Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
7
4-
t-
3,5-
60:4 79
0
67:3 25
3
70:3 81
0
64:3
6
NO2
Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
8
4-
n- t-
3,5-
61:3 92
9
66:3 10
4
68:3 99
2
74:2
6
NO2 Pr Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
9
4-F
C
t-
3,5-
64:3 73
6
67:3 67
3
68:3 68
2
75:2
5
H3 Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
10
H
C
C
3,5-
57:4 83
56:4 40
52:4 86
57:4
15

H3 H3 (CF3)2C
6H4
3
4
8
3
11
12
13
14
H
H
H
H
C
i-
3,5-
10j
10k
10l
75
70
52
58:4 79
2
57:4 40
3
57:4 58
3
67:3
3
H3 Pr (CF3)2C
6H4
C
i-
3,5-
61:3 70
9
61:3 20
9
52:4 92
8
59:4
1
H3 Bu (CF3)2C
6H4
C
Bz 3,5-
60:4 87
0
52:4 20
8
51:4 99
9
56:4
4
H3
l
(CF3)2C
6H4
1-
C
t-
100m 43
51:4 100 53:4 21
45:5 89
5
53:4
7
H3 Bu Naphth
yl
m
9
7
aDetermined by 1H NMR spectra of 1 with (R)-1-phenylethylamine - arbitrarily assigned configuration., bdata for reference
catalyst
16

Figure 1. (S)-N-benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) thioureido)-N,3,3-
trimethylbutanamide (6).
17

Figure 2. Regions of thiourea organocatalyst.
18

Figure 3. Structures and yields of organocatalyst 10a-m.
19

Scheme 1. Synthetic application of chiral 5-((1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-
dioxane-4,6-diones.
20

Scheme 2. Routes to synthesis of chiral 5-((1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-
dioxane-4,6-diones (1).
21

Scheme 3. Plausible transition state with action of (S)-N-benzyl-2-(3-(3,5-
bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido)-N,3,3-trimethyl butanamide (6).
22

Scheme 4. Synthetic strategy for preparation of modified thiourea organocatalysts.
23

Scheme 5. Proposed reaction mechanism for the formation of side product (S)-3-benzyl-5-(tert-
butyl)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one (11).
24