We are interested in the enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized molecules with biological activity. In this frame, we have just published “a preliminary study” in the development of a “New Organocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Substituted Chiral 2-Oxo Spiro-[indole-3,4′- (1′,4′-dihydropyridine)] Derivatives”.

Fernando Auria-Luna, Eugenia Marqués-López, Somayeh Mohammadi, Roghayeh Heiran, Raquel P. Herrera. Molecules 2015, 20, 15807-15826. doi:10.3390/molecules200915807

Congratulations Fernando for this, your first article! Well done!
We keep nice memories of Somayeh and Somi, they worked really hard. Thanks girls!

Abstract: Herein, we report our preliminary results concerning the first promising asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized 2-oxospiro-[indole-3,4′-(1′,4′-dihydropyridine)] via the reaction of an enamine with isatylidene malononitrile
derivatives in the presence of a chiral base organocatalyst. The moderate, but promising, enantioselectivity observed (30%–58% ee (enantiomeric excess)) opens the door to a new area of research for the asymmetric construction of these appealing spirooxindole skeletons, whose enantioselective syntheses are still very limited.

Keywords: chiral base; enamine; isatylidene malononitrile; 1,4-dihydropyridine; enantioselective; isatin; organocatalysis; spirooxindole; 2-oxospiro-[indole-3,4′-(1′,4′-dihydropyridine)]