One-pot asymmetric synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-4-quinolones catalyzed by amino acid-derived sulfonamides

An organocatalyzed approach to the asymmetric synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-4-quinolones using amino-acid derived sulfonamides as organocatalysts, which can be easily prepared starting from l-proline, l-alanine, and l-phenylalanine, has been developed in high yields (up to 92%) and with moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 74% ee). Additionally, opposite enantioselectivities for primary and secondary amino acid sulfonamides have also been observed.