Chiral Bifunctional Amine-Squaramide-Catalyzed Highly Diastereo- and Enantioselective Michael/Aldol Cascade Reaction of 2-Mercaptobenzaldehyde and α,ß-Unsaturated 7-Azaindoline Amides.

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective Michael/aldol cascade reaction of 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde and α,ß-unsaturated 7-azaindoline amides has been developed. Using as low as 1 mol % cinchonidine-derived bifunctional squaramide as the catalyst, a range of enantioenriched thiochromenes containing three contiguous stereogenic centers were smoothly obtained in excellent results (all cases >20:1 dr, 88-99% yield and ≥99% ee). The 7-azaindoline moiety of α,ß-unsaturated 7-azaindoline amides has been demonstrated to be vital for the high reactivity and excellent stereoselectivity.