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Updated: May 30, 2025

Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Experimental and DFT Studies of Intermolecular Interaction-Assisted Oxindole Cyclization Reaction of Di-t-butyl
Ryo Kakehi1, Yu-Suke Yamai1, Akio Tanaka2
1Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Materials and Bioengineering, Kansai University, 3-3-35 Yamate-cho, Suita, Osaka 564-8680, Japan.
Abstract:
Density functional theory calculations on the cyclization of di-t-butyl 2-(2-aminophenyl)-2-methyl malonate (1) to t-butyl 3-methyloxindole-3-carboxylate (2) reveal that acetic acid-assisted protonation of the carbonyl oxygen atom reduces the activation Gibbs free energy significantly lower than methanol-assisted pathways. Experimental data confirm that reaction concentration plays a pivotal role in oxindole formation. Experimental results also indicate distinct reaction mechanisms at low and high concentrations. Achieving high enantioselectivity for chiral compound 2 in high-concentration reactions requires discovering a novel chiral acid.
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