Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral 3,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)oxindoles

Oxindoles 3b–d (91–98% ee) having a chiral quaternary carbon center at the C-3 position were prepared from readily available oxindoles 5a–c in 50–64% overall yields, in which an enantioselective desymmetrization of prochiral 1,3-diols 2b–d using a Candida rugosa lipase (Meito OF) and 1-ethoxyvinyl 2-furoate 1 was employed as the key step.