Catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-unprotected 2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene derivatives and azomethine ylides for the construction of spirooxindole-pyrrolidines
PyBidine-Cu(OTf)<sub>2</sub>-Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition with Imino Esters: Harmony of Cu-Lewis Acid and Imidazolidine-NH Hydrogen Bonding in Concerto Catalysis
(PyBidine)–Cu(OTf)2 complex catalyzing the endo‐selective [3+2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes with imino esters was applied to the reaction of methyleneindolinones with imino esters to afford spiro[pyrrolidin‐3,3′‐oxindole]s in up to 98 % ee. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the PyBidine–Cu(OTf)2 complex and DFT calculations suggested that an intermediate Cu enolate of the imino ester reacts with