Monodentate/bidentate chiral Ph/Py-NO ligands: an unexpected switch of enantioselectivity in Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles and 2,3-dioxopyrrolidines

Key to the success of the switch of enantioselectivity is the existence of two different activation patterns. This study is the first example of a monodentate ligand in asymmetric catalytic FC alkylation.