Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Dearomative Heck-Reductive Allylic Defluorination Reaction of Indoles

Org Lett. 2023 Aug 25;25(33):6122-6127. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c02092. Epub 2023 Aug 14.

Abstract

Herein, we describe a nickel-catalyzed asymmetric dearomative aryl-difluoroallylation reaction of indoles with α-trifluoromethyl alkenes as an electrophilic coupling partner. The reaction proceeds via a cascade sequence involving dearomative Heck cyclization and reductive allylic defluorination. A series of gem-difluoroallyl substituted indolines are obtained in moderate to good yields (36-77% yield) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). The reaction features broad functional group tolerance, scaled-up synthesis, and late-stage diversification.