Catalytic Enantioselective Pictet–Spengler Reaction of α‐Ketoamides Catalyzed by a Single H‐Bond Donor Organocatalyst

The asymmetric Pictet–Spengler reaction (PSR) with aldehydes is well known. However, PSR involving ketones as electrophilic partners is far‐less developed. We report herein the first examples of catalytic enantioselective PSR of tryptamines with α‐ketoamides. A new class of easily accessible prolyl‐urea organocatalysts bearing a single H‐bond donor function catalyzes the title reaction to afford 1,1‐disubstituted tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The kinetic isotope effect using C2‐deuterium‐labelled tryptamine indicates that the rearomatization of the pentahydro‐β‐carbolinium ion intermediate might be the rate‐ and the enantioselectivity‐determining step. A simple prolinamide bearing a single H‐bond donor urea function catalyzes the Pictet–Spengler reaction between tryptamines and α‐ketoamides to afford 1,1‐disubstituted tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines in excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses.