Saccharide success: exploring the role of d-fructose-based thioureas as organocatalysts for the enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction

Abstract

In this study, a series of sixteen (16) D-fructose-based bifunctional thioureas were examined as organocatalysts for the enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles and pyrrole with β-nitrostyrenes. This investigation is a part of our ongoing project, which aims to expand the scope of application of D-fructose-based thioureas. Under the optimized low-temperature reaction conditions, the corresponding adducts were obtained with good yield (up to 95%) and excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee).