Catalytic asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with nitroalkenes was catalyzed
by the stereochemically tunable bis(oxazolidine)pyridine (PyBodine)–Cu(OTf)2 complex. Using the PyBodine(Val)–Cu(OTf)2 catalyst gave the Friedel–Crafts adducts with highly enantioselective manner. For
the 1,4-bis[(E)-2-nitrovinyl]benzene, the reaction proceeded in a meso-trick manner to give the chiral double Friedel–Crafts adduct with 97% enantiomeric
excess.
Key words
oxazolidine - copper - Friedel–Crafts alkylation - indole - nitroalkene -
meso trick