Enantioselective Organocatalytic Indole Alkylations

The group of MacMillan at CalTech continues to explore the use of organocatalysts in enantioselective carbon-carbon bond forming reactions (e.g. J Am Chem Soc, 2001, 123, 4370). The most recent report (Austin J F et al, J Am Chem Soc, 2002, 124, 1172) provides a selective method of alkylation of indoles in the 3 position as shown below.