Dynamic kinetic resolution of γ,γ-disubstituted indole 2-carboxaldehydesviaNHC-Lewis acid cooperative catalysis for the synthesis of tetracyclic ε-lactones

The ubiquity of ε-lactones in various biologically active compounds inspired the development of efficient and enantioselective routes to these target compounds. Described herein is the enantioselective synthesis of indole-fused ε-lactones by the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-Lewis acid cooperative catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of