Enantioselective Synthesis of 3-Hydroxy-2-Oxindoles via Ni-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Aromatic Bromides to α-Ketoamides.

Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular addition of aryl halides to α-ketoamides has been achieved to afford chiral 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield and 98 % ee), which provides efficient access to valuable molecules containing 3-hydroxy-2-oxindole core. The gram-scale reaction proved the potential utility of the methodology.