Synthesis of chiral sulfinyl-substituted 1-indolyl enones and asymmetric conjugate addition by an arylcopper reagent.

The asymmetric conjugate addition of arylcopper reagents to chiral 1-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)]indolyl and 1-[3-(p-tolylsulfinyl)]indolyl enones was examined. With the 2-sulfinyl-indolyl derivatives, the reaction of the arylcopper reagent gave high diastereoselectivities (81-88% de's) to afford the adducts in excellent yields, although the similar addition reaction of the 3-sulfinyl derivatives afforded poor diastereoselectivities.