Stoichiometry-controlled cycloaddition of azomethine ylide with dipolarophiles: chemoselective and regioselective synthesis of bis- and tris-spirooxindole derivatives

A new series of bis- and tris-spirooxindole derivatives have been synthesized by controlling the molar equivalent of in situ generated azomethine ylides in [3+2]-cycloaddition reactions with dipolarophiles. The structural elucidation on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral data of these compounds established the highly chemoselective and regioselective formation of spirooxindole derivatives. Single crystal X-ray analysis of compound 4g and 2D NMR analysis of compound 5a confirmed the structures of bis- and tris-spirooxindole derivatives.