Asymmetric Synthesis of Bridged N-Heterocycles with Tertiary Carbon Center through Barbas Dienamine-Catalysis: Scope and Applications

A direct aza-Diels–Alder reaction between 2-aryl-3H-indolin-3-ones and cyclic-enones has been developed to access chiral indolin-3-one fused polycyclic bridged compounds. This method proceeds via proline-catalyzed Barbas-dienamine intermediate formation from various cyclic-enones such as 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-cyclohexene-1-one, and 2-cycloheptene-1-one, followed by a reaction with 2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ones. Several indolin-3-ones fusing [2.2.2], [2.2.1], and [3.2.1] skeletons decorated with a tertiary carbon chiral center have been prepared. Computational studies (DFT) supported the observed stereoselectivity in the method. The synthesized compounds have shown exciting photophysical activities and selective sensing of Pd2+ and Fe3+ ions through the fluorescence quenching "switch-off" mode.