A Three-Component Enantioselective Cyclization Reaction Catalyzed by an Unnatural Amino Acid Derivative

A new diastereo- and enantioselective three-component cyclization reaction is described. The reaction takes place between a ketone, a carboxylic acid, and a nitroalkene to yield a bicyclic octahydro-2H-indol-2-one scaffold possessing three chiral centers. This reaction involves a rearrangement of the nitro group under simple thermal conditions. A plausible mechanism is proposed for this new reaction based on DFT calculations and isotope-labeling experiments. A new concise enantioselective synthesis of the alkaloid (+)-pancracine is presented as an example of the potential of this novel organocatalytic cyclization reaction in the synthesis of natural products.