Enantioselective Michael addition of 3-aryl-substituted oxindoles to methyl vinyl ketone catalyzed by a binaphthyl-modified bifunctional organocatalyst.

The enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of 3-aryl-substituted oxindoles with methyl vinyl ketone promoted by binaphthyl-modified bifunctional organocatalysts was investigated. The corresponding Michael adducts, containing a quaternary center at the C3-position of the oxindoles, were generally obtained in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee).