The condensation cyclization between isatins and 5-methoxy tryptamine catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acids provides spirooxindole tetrahydro-β-carboline products in excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivity (up to 98:2 er). A comparison of catalysts provides insight for the substrate scope and factors responsible for efficient catalytic activity and selectivity in the spirocyclization. Chiral phosphoric acids with different 3,3′-substitution on the binaphthyl system and opposite axial chirality afford the spiroindolone product with the same absolute configuration.

An enantioselective Mannich-type reaction between enamides, serving as aliphatic imine equivalents, and thiazolones or an azlactone, serving as α-amino acid derived pronucleophiles, was investigated using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. By using thiazolones, Mannich adducts with a tetrasubstituted chiral carbon center at the α-position and an aliphatic substituent at the β-position were efficiently obtained with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.