Abstract
The cheap and simple iPr-bisoxazoline–Cu(OTf)2 proves to be an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reaction of indole with arylidene malonates. In iBuOH, the S-enantiomer was obtained in up to 97% ee, while the opposite enantiomer was obtained in up to 78% ee in CH2Cl2 or TTCE.