Enantioselective Synthesis of 3-Substituted 3-Amino-2-oxindoles by Amination with Anilines.

A chiral N,N'-dioxide-nickel(II) complex-catalyzed asymmetric amination of 3-bromo-3-substituted oxindoles with anilines has been developed. A series of alkyl or aryl 3-amino-indolinones with quaternary stereocenters were obtained in high yields with excellent ee values in one step (up to 99 % yield, up to 96 % ee). The method provided a ready route to optically active intermediates of 3-amino-2-oxindole-based bioactive compounds. Moreover, a possible transition-state model is proposed so as to elucidate the origin of the chirality based on the X-ray crystal structure of the catalyst and the adduct.