Electrochemical Enantioselective Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C-H Activations to Atropostable Indoles and Chiral Spiropyrazolones.

Abstract

Ruthenium(II) catalysis is characterized by a remarkable diversity in C-H activation; however, compared to other transition metals, enantioselective C-H activations continue to be underdeveloped. Meanwhile, organic electrosynthesis has attracted considerable attention in recent years as a sustainable alternative to traditional redox approaches. Herein, we disclose an unprecedented electrochemistry-enabled ruthenium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H activation strategy to provide versatile access to atroposelective indoles as well as chiral spiroazoles. This approach combines the redox flexibility of ruthenium with the sustainable nature of molecular electrosynthesis, delivering the desired products in high chemical yields with excellent enantioselectivities, thereby paving the way for sustainable asymmetric syntheses.