Diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of 3-substituted oxindoles to nitroolefins catalyzed by a chiral Ni(OAc)2-diamine complex under mild conditions.

A simple catalyst system assembled from an enantiomerically pure diamine ligand and Ni(OAc)(2) efficiently generates chiral metal enolates derived from 3-substituted oxindoles bearing an N-1 carbonyl group. The enolates smoothly undergo diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition to a wide range of nitroolefins under mild reaction conditions, furnishing 3,3-disubstituted oxindole products bearing two vicinal quaternary/tertiary stereocenters in 74-95% yields and 60:40 to 99:1 dr, 71-97% ee.
(© 2011 American Chemical Society)