Chiral Thiourea and Rare‐Earth Lewis Acid Successively Catalyzed Asymmetric Michael/Double Friedel–Crafts Reactions for Optically Active Indolyl‐Substituted Spirooxindole‐Hydroindolizine Backbones

A successive Michael/double Friedel–Crafts cascade reaction of ( E )‐2‐hydroxyaryl‐2‐oxobut‐3‐enoates, 3‐pyrrolyloxindoles, and indole or its derivatives was reported. The three‐step process was catalyzed by the combination of a chiral thiourea catalyst and a rare‐earth Lewis acid catalyst. Indolyl‐substituted spirooxindole‐hydroindolizines bearing two quaternary and one tertiary stereogenic centers were obtained in high yields with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity.