The regio- and enantioselective (3+3) cycloaddition of nitrones with 2-indolylmethanols was accomplished by the cooperative catalysis of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). Using this approach, a series of indole-fused six-membered heterocycles were synthesized in high yields (up to 98 %), with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 % ee) and exclusive regiospecificity. This approach enabled not only the first organocatalytic asymmetric (3+3) cycloaddition of nitrones but also the first C3-nucleophilic asymmetric (3+3) cycloaddition of 2-indolylmethanols. More importantly, theoretical calculations elucidated the role of the cocatalyst HFIP in helping CPA control the reactivity and enantioselectivity of the reaction, demonstrating a new mode of cooperative catalysis.
Keywords: cooperative catalysis; cycloaddition; enantioselectivity; indolylmethanol; nitrone; organocatalysis.
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