LETTER	Synlett 2007: 0547-0550   DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967963
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Catalytic Asymmetric Alkylation of α-Cyanocarboxylates Using a Phase-Transfer Catalyst
Kazuhiro Nagata, Daisuke Sano, Takashi Itoh*
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Showa University, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan Fax: +81(3)37845982; e-Mail: itoh-t@pharm.showa-u.ac.jp;
Received 16 October 2006

Abstract

The highly enantioselective catalytic alkylation of ­cyanoacetates was achieved using a chiral phase-transfer catalyst to give α,α-disubstituted α-cyanoacetates which have a chiral quaternary carbon. The product thus obtained was applied to the synthesis of an optically active oxindole.

Key words

phase-transfer catalysis - asymmetric synthesis - alkylation - halides - indoles