Catalytic Enantioselective Pyrrole Alkylations of α,β-Unsaturated 2-Acyl Imidazoles

Enantioselective additions of pyrroles to α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by the bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine−scandium(III) triflate complex (1) have been accomplished. The α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles were synthesized in high yields through Wittig olefination. A short, enantioselective synthesis of the alkaloid (+)-heliotridane has been accomplished utilizing this methodology and a 2-acyl imidazole cleavage and cyclization. This methodology was then extended to the one-pot asymmetric synthesis of 2-substituted indoles.