Catalytic Asymmetric Reverse Prenylation of Indol-2-one Enabled a Synthesis of (-)-Debromoflustramine A.

A catalytic asymmetric nucleophilic reverse prenylation of indol-2-ones in situ generated from 3-bromooxindoles with prenyltributylstannane promoted by Ni(II)/chiral N,N'-dioxide was developed. This reaction provides facile access to C3 reverse-prenylated oxindoles in good to excellent enantioselectivities, which enabled the asymmetric synthesis of debromoflustramine A in five steps.