Stereoselective Formation of Carbon−Carbon Bonds via S_N2-Displacement: Synthesis of Substituted Cycloalkyl[<i>b</i>]indoles

A general asymmetric synthesis of substituted cycloalkyl[b]indoles has been accomplished. The key features of this approach are (1) the utilization of a Japp−Klingemann condensation/Fischer cyclization to prepare cycloalkyl[b]indolones, (2) the asymmetric borane reduction of these heterocyclic ketones with (S)-OAB to obtain enantiomerically pure alcohols, and (3) the stereoselective SN2-displacement of these indole alcohol substrates with a carbon nucleophile under Mitsunobu conditions to set the C1 or C3 tertiary carbon stereocenter. The use of trimethylphosphine (PMe3) and bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl) azodicarboxylate (TCEAD) was found to have an effect on the Mitsunobu dehydrative alkylation.