Synthesis of chiral spiro-cyclopentene/cyclopentadiene-oxindoles through an asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of isatin-derived MBH carbonates and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters

A highly stereoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition for constructing the chiral spiro-cyclopentene/cyclopentadiene-oxindole skeletons is developed. Under the mild reaction conditions, the straightforward cyclization of isatin-derived MBH carbonates and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters involving a chiral tertiary amine catalyst provides the corresponding spirooxindole derivatives with an extraordinary level of diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Further synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the gram-scale experiment and functional transformation of the synthetic compound into other structurally diverse spirooxindole.     

Three-component synthesis of novel spirooxindole–furan derivatives using pyridinium salts

A simple and efficient synthesis of novel spirooxindole–furan derivatives has been investigated by a modified version of the“interrupted” Feist–Bénary (IFB) reaction of isatin derivatives, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and N-phenacyl pyridinium salts in the presence of triethylamine. The reaction has been carried out under mild conditions in ethanol, and the products were obtained in good to moderate yields with a simple work-up procedure.     

DMAP-catalyzed four-component one-pot synthesis of highly functionalized spirooxindole-1,4-dihydropyridines derivatives in aqueous ethanol

An efficient, clean, and environmental friendly ‘one-pot’ four-component reaction was developed for assembling a novel type of spirooxindole derivatives containing dihydropyridine and pyrrolidinone. The reaction could be easily performed in aqueous ethanol with 4-DMAP as catalyst in good yields. The high efficiency and the simple and mild condition of the reaction, in addition with its avoidance of time-consuming, costly syntheses, and tedious workup, endowed the reaction with application significance. A series of spirooxindole derivatives were therefore prepared in excellent yields by using this ‘one-pot’ four-component reaction method.     

A New Reaction of Isatin,Cyclic 1,3‐Diketone,and 2‐Cyanoacetamide: A Four‐Component Synthesis of Spirooxindoles

A novel reaction of isatins, 2‐cyanoacetamide, and cyclic 1,3‐diketones in ethanol was reported. The reaction gave the unexpected spirooxindole ethyl carboxylates in excellent yields and the spirooxindole carboxamide was not observed.     

4-Dimethylaminopyridine-catalyzed multi-component one-pot reactions for the convenient synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole] derivatives

An efficient and clean reaction process was developed for the convenient and cheap synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives. One-pot reactions of isatins, malononitrile (or ethyl cyanoacetate), hydrazine hydrate (or phenylhydrazine), and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were compared with one-pot reactions of isatins, malononitrile (or ethyl cyanoacetate), and 5-pyrazolone derivatives. Both sets of reaction were conducted in EtOH in the presence of 4-DMAP catalyst. A series of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole] derivatives were quickly obtained in excellent yields by using the four-component one-pot reaction method.     

An efficient one‐pot three‐component reaction for synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives in water media under catalyst‐free condition

An efficient, clean, and environmentally benign synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives by one‐pot three‐component reaction of isatins, malononitrile, and carbonyl compound in the absence of catalysis in water was described. A variety of spirooxindole derivatives were obtained with excellent yields within short reaction time. This novel protocol has the advantages of convenient operation, low cost, and environmental benign. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:673–677, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20723     

One-pot three-component reaction for the synthesis of biologically important spiro[benzo[f]quinoline-3,3′-indoline] derivatives

A previously unknown class of highly substituted benzoquinoline–spirooxindole are easily prepared by a novel application of a mild and efficient catalyst SbCl₃ for carbon–carbon and carbon–nitrogen bond formation reaction involving isatin, alkyne (dialkyl but-2-ynedioate) with aromatic amine (2-naphthylamine) in a one-pot three-component reaction. This protocol of one-pot synthesis afforded a library of dialkyl 2′-oxo-4H-spiro[benzo[f]quinoline-3,3′-indoline]-1,2-dicarboxylate derivatives, a potential bioactive compound in very good to excellent yields.     

A novel synthesis of diverse 2-amino-5-hydroxy-4H-chromene derivatives with a spirooxindole nucleus by Ca(OH)2-mediated three-component reactions of substituted resorcinols with isatins and malononitrile

An efficient and facile one-pot synthesis is described for the preparation of novel 2-amino-5-hydroxy-4H-chromene derivatives with a spirooxindole nucleus using Ca(OH)₂-mediated three-component reactions of substituted resorcinols with isatins and malononitrile. This simple method provided a variety of biologically interesting diverse 2-amino-5-hydroxy-4H-chromene derivatives in moderate yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Efficient One‐Pot Synthesis of Novel Spirooxindole‐Fused Phosphorous Heterocycle Derivatives by a Three‐Component Domino Reaction

A highly efficient, catalyst‐free, and regioselective synthesis of structurally diverse spirooxindole‐fused phosphorous heterocycle derivatives was constructed in good yields by means of a three‐component domino reaction of isatins, dichlorophenylphosphine or phenyl phosphorodichloridite, and o‐aminophenol in tetrahydrofuran reflux. The advantages of this method include high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and environmentally benign reagents. These spirooxindole‐fused phosphorous heterocycles are promising candidates for drug discovery.     

Synthesis of Quaternary Spirooxindole 2H-Azirines under Batch and Continuous Flow Condition and Metal Assisted Umpolung Reactivity for the Ring-Opening Reaction

An efficient and new approach for the synthesis of spirooxindole 2H-azirines via intramolecular oxidative cyclization of 3-(amino(phenyl)methylene)-indolin-2-one derivatives in the presence of I₂ and Cs₂CO₃ under batch/continuous flow is described. This method is mild and facile to synthesize a variety of spirooxindole 2H-azirines derivatives in gram-scale. Furthermore, we have synthesized spiroaziridine derivatives from spirooxindole 2H-azirines derivatives via addition of Grignard reagent. In addition, we discloses an metal assisted attack of Grignard nucleophile at N-centre rather than C- of the spirooxindole 2H-azirines, which concurrently underwent ring opening of transient aziridines to afford N-substituted Z-3-(aminophenyl)indolin-2-one. A plausible mechanism for azirination and ring-opening reaction is also presented.     

Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of anticancer spirooxindoles derived from tryptophan and histidine via three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions in an ionic liquid

A small library of novel hybrid spiroheterocycles containing spirooxindole, pyrrolidine and indole/imidazole moieties were synthesized with complete regio- and diastereoselectively in good to excellent yields from a three-component process starting from a series of variously substituted (E)-(2-nitrovinyl)benzenes, indoline-2,3-dione derivatives and l-tryptophan or l-histidine in an ionic liquid. The key step of this transformation is a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction involving a rare class of in situ-generated azomethine ylides derived from aromatic amino acids. The compounds thus synthesized were evaluated for their anticancer activity and were shown to inhibit the proliferation of FaDu cells, a human epithelial cell line isolated from a squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, via apoptotic cell death.     

Use of the intramolecular Heck reaction for forming congested quaternary carbon stereocenters. Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (+/-)-gelsemine

Intramolecular Heck reactions of alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-haloanilides derived from azatricyclo[4.4.0.0(2,8)]decanone 5 efficiently install the congested spirooxindole functionality of gelsemine. Depending upon the Heck reaction conditions and the nature of the beta-substituent, either products having the natural or unnatural configuration of the spirooxindole group are formed predominantly. Efforts to elaborate the hydropyran ring of gelsemine from the endo-oriented nitrile substituent of pentacyclic Heck product 18 were unsuccessful. Important steps in the ultimately successful route to (+/-)-gelsemine (1) are as follows: (a) intramolecular Heck reaction of tricyclic beta-methoxy alpha,beta-unsaturated 2-iodoanilide 68 in the presence of silver phosphate to form pentacyclic product 69 having the unnatural configuration of the spirooxindole fragment, (b) formation of hexacyclic aziridine 80 from the reaction of cyanide with intermediate 79 containing an N-methoxycarbonyl-beta-bromoethylamine fragment, (c) introduction of C17 by ring-opening of the aziridinium ion derived from aziridine 80, and (d) base-promoted skeletal rearrangement of pentacyclic equatorial alcohol 82 to form the oxacyclic ring and invert the spirooxindole functional group to provide hexacyclic gelsemine precursor 83.     

Synthesis of Spirooxindoles through Cyclocondensation of Isatin and Cyclic 1,3‐Diones

A simple, clean, and efficient method for the synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives via condensation of isatin with enolizable cyclic β‐diketones has been developed. The use of water as a solvent allows avoiding the use of toxic organic solvents, which makes this reaction safe and environmentally friendly. The mechanism of the condensation reaction has been investigated using first‐principles‐based density functional theory calculations.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed three-component domino reaction of alkynyl aldehydes with oxindoles

A new and stereoselective synthetic approach to spirooxindole 4H-pran-2-one derivatives with three contiguous stereogenic centers has been developed via an NHC-catalyzed three-component domino reaction of alkynyl aldehydes with oxindoles. The reaction proceeds smoothly in good yields with good to high diastereoselectivities. These novel heterocyclic spirooxindoles may provide promising candidates for drug discovery. Additionally, a possible mechanism for the entire reaction sequence is proposed.     

Efficient construction of highly functionalized endo′-selective spiro[pyrrolidin-2,3′-oxindoles] via a regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between 3-amino oxindoles as azomethine ylide precursors and nitroalkenes

An efficient synthesis of novel endo′-selective spiro[pyrrolidin-2,3′-oxindoles] has been achieved via a three component regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The azomethine ylides generated in situ from 3-amino oxindoles and aldehydes reacted with the nitroalkenes to furnish novel pyrrolidine–spirooxindole derivatives bearing one spiro quaternary center and multiple chiral centers in moderate to high yields (up to 99%) with high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1). The structure and relative stereochemistry of cycloadducts were confirmed by NMR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The possible mechanism was proposed and the cycloaddition proceeded via endo′-transition state.     

Domino Pd-catalyzed Heck cyclization and bismuth-catalyzed hydroamination: formal synthesis of elacomine and isoelacomine

The formal synthesis of hemiterpene spirooxindole alkaloids elacomine (1) and isoelacomine (2) is described. Heck reaction of protected iodoanilines with 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one or six-membered unsaturated lactams was investigated. The coupling product was readily converted to a carbamoyl chloride with an incorporated diene unit. The spiro(pyrrolidine-3,3'-oxindole) skeleton, which corresponds to the carbon skeleton of 1 and 2, was efficiently constructed from this intermediate by using a domino palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction and bismuth-catalyzed hydroamination. An isolated byproduct of the reaction could also be converted to the spirooxindole skeleton.     

Cu-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with dipolarophiles: a faster access to spirooxindoles of potential pharmacological interest

CuI facilitated three-component reaction of isatin derivatives, l-proline and terminal alkynes containing an amide or ester functional group. The multi-component reaction (MCR) afforded a faster and practical synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives. A range of novel spirooxindoles were synthesized by using this straightforward and one-pot efficient methodology. A representative compound showed significant inhibition of PDE4B enzyme in vitro and good interactions with this protein in silico.     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,4]thiazepine]dione via three-component reaction

An efficient one-pot synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,4]thiazepine] dione derivatives via three-component reaction of 5-amino-3-methylpyrazole, isatin, and thioacid is described. This new protocol produces novel heptacyclic spirooxindole derivatives in good yields in comparison to conventional pentacyclic compounds. This method proceeds through a 3-(5-aminopyrazol-3-yl)-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoline intermediate (Baylis-Hillman type adduct), unlike 3-indolylimine (the intermediate like Shiff-Bases) as in conventional methods. The structure of one representative compound has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Cascade Reactions of 7‐Vinylindoles: Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of C7‐Functionalized Indoles

The first catalytic asymmetric cascade reaction of 7‐vinylindoles has been established by the rational design of such substrates. Cascade reactions with isatin‐derived 3‐indolylmethanols in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid derivative allow the diastereo‐ and enantioselective synthesis of C7‐functionalized indoles as well as the construction of cyclopenta[b]indole and spirooxindole frameworks (all >95:5 d.r., 94–>99 % ee). This approach not only addresses the great challenge of the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of C7‐functionalized indoles, but also provides an efficient method for constructing biologically important cyclopenta[b]indole and spirooxindole scaffolds with excellent optical purity. Investigation of the reaction pathway and activation mode has suggested that this cascade reaction proceeds through a vinylogous Michael addition/Friedel–Crafts process, in which dual H‐bonding activation of the two reactants plays a crucial role.     

A cesium fluoride promoted efficient and rapid multicomponent synthesis of functionalized 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran and spirooxindole derivatives

A rapid, one-pot and highly efficient protocol for the synthesis of pharmaceutically interesting functionalized 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran and spirooxindole derivatives has been developed using commercially available Cs F as a catalyst in the reaction of malononitrile and aryl aldehydes or isatins with 1,3-cyclohexanediones. The major advantages of this methodology are excellent yield at ambient temperature, very short reaction time(5–10 min), and use of an inexpensive catalyst.