Synthesis of pyrroloindolines through formal [3+2]-cycloaddition of indoles with chiral N-2-acetamidoacrylyl oxazolidinones

摘要

Chiral N-2-acetamidoacrylyl oxazolidinones were produced and reacted with indoles under Lewis acid conditions to generate hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole products in a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition process. Optimal conditions included the use of tin(IV) chloride in methylene chloride at 0 degrees C. Pyrroloindoline products were obtained from various indoles with shorter reaction times (12 hr) up to 91% yield with high, >20:1 exo selectivity. A mechanism involving reversible conjugate addition followed by an enamine lone-pair-iminium capture, tautomerization, and tin-enolate protonation accounts for the selectivity. The method enables selective applications to pyrroloindoline targets and further refinement with chiral catalysts. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.