An enantioselective approach to highly substituted tetrahydrocarbazoles through hydrogen bonding-catalyzed cascade reactions.

A hydrogen bonding-mediated double Michael addition-aromatization cascade of 2-propenylindoles and nitroolefins has been disclosed. The methodology allows an efficient synthesis of diverse and structurally complex tetrahydrocarbazoles in good to excellent enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities.