Vinylogous Reactivity of Oxindoles Bearing Nonsymmetric 3-Alkylidene Groups

J Org Chem. 2015 Jul 17;80(14):7158-71. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5b01022. Epub 2015 Jul 2.

Abstract

The γ-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.