Highly Enantioselective Alkylation Reaction of Enamides by Brønsted-Acid Catalysis

The H8-BINOL-derived, phosphoric acid catalyzed, highly enatioselective alkylation reaction of enamides with indolyl alcohols has been described. A phosphoric acid derived from H8-BINOL enabled an asymmetric alpha-alkylation of enamides with indolyl alcohols to give beta-aryl 3-(3-indolyl)propanones in high yields (up to 96%) and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee).