Expanding the Scope of Cinchona Alkaloid-Catalyzed Enantioselective α-Aminations of Oxindoles: A Versatile Approach to Optically Active 3-Amino-2-oxindole Derivatives

A cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed, highly enantioselective, α-amination of oxindoles has been developed. The reaction is general, operationally simple, and affords the desired products in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivity. Significantly, this study provides a general catalytic method for the construction of a C−N bond at the C3 position of oxindoles as well as for the creation of a nitrogen-containing, tetrasubstituted chiral center.