Direct Access to Alkylideneoxindoles via Axially Enantioselective Knoevenagel Condensation.

The organocatalytic axially enantioselective Knoevenagel condensation between prochiral cyclohexanones and oxindoles is presented. The reaction, promoted by a primary amine, proceeded smoothly and furnished unprecedented examples of novel cyclohexylidene oxindoles displaying axial chirality.