Rearrangement of spirocyclic oxindoles with lithium amide bases

Spirocyclohexa-2,5-dienes were shown to rearrange at -40 degrees C, when treated with 1 equiv of LDA. Alkyl halides and aldehydes then reacted with the resulting phenanthridinone lithium enolate intermediates, with distinct regioselectivities and high diastereocontrol, to afford functionalized dearomatized phenanthridinones which were elaborated further. A mechanistic scheme involving a diisopropylamine-mediated proton transfer was proposed to rationalize the rearrangement.