Stereoselective synthesis of indolines via organocatalytic thioester enolate addition reactions.

A straightforward stereoselective synthesis route to indolin-3-yl acetates has been developed using organocatalytic addition reactions of monothiomalonates to ortho-bromo nitrostyrenes as the key step. The addition products of this highly stereoselective one-pot addition-deprotection-decarboxylation sequence were easily further converted to the target indolin-3-yl acetates, via an intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reaction. The route provided indolin-3-yl acetates bearing tertiary and exocyclic quarternary stereogenic centers in excellent stereoselectivities and overall yields of 34-83%.