Synthesis of polycyclic spirooxindoles via an asymmetric catalytic one-pot stepwise Aldol/chloroetherification/aromatization procedure

Asymmetric Organocatalyzed Transfer Hydroxymethylation of Isoindolinones Using Formaldehyde Surrogates

The piperidine-based Takemoto catalyst has been successfully employed in a novel asymmetric transfer hydroxymethylation of activated isoindolinones, allowing us to prepare the enantioenriched hydroxymethylated adducts in good to excellent yields (48-96%) and enantiopurities (81:19-97:3 e.r.). To increase the reaction rate without compromising the selectivity, carefully optimized formaldehyde surrogates were employed, providing a convenient source of anhydrous formaldehyde with a base-triggered release. The substrate scope, including 34 entries, showed the considerable generality of the asymmetric transformation, and most entries exhibited complete conversions in 24-48 h. A scale-up experiment and multiple enantioselective downstream transformations were also carried out, suggesting the prospective synthetic utility of the products.

Enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydrofuran spirooxindoles via domino oxa-Michael/Michael addition reaction using a bifunctional squaramide catalyst

An enantioselective approach for the synthesis of tetrahydrofuran spirooxindoles via domino oxa-Michael/Michael addition reaction of γ-hydroxyenones to isatylidene malononitriles, using a cinchona derived bifunctional squaramide catalyst has been developed. The methodology is the first success of enantioselective oxa-Michael addition to isatylidene malononitriles. The spiro products were obtained in excellent yields with moderate to good enantio- and diastereoselectivities. Scale-up of the reaction and synthetic transformation of the spiro product into structurally complex molecules have been performed.

Recent Strategies in the Synthesis of Spiroindole and Spirooxindole Scaffolds

Spiroindole and spirooxindole scaffolds are very important spiro-heterocyclic compounds in drug design processes. Significant attention has been directed at obtaining molecules based on spiroindole and spirooxindole derivatives that have bioactivity against cancer cells, microbes, and different types of disease affecting the human body. Due to their inherent three-dimensional nature and ability to project functionalities in all three dimensions, they have become biological targets. Considering reports on spiroindole and spirooxindole-containing scaffolds in the past decades, introducing novel synthetic procedures has been an active research field of organic chemistry for well over a century and will be useful in creating new therapeutic agents. This review summarizes the pharmacological significance of spiroindole and spirooxindole scaffolds and highlights the latest strategies for their synthesis, focusing particularly on the past 2 years with typical examples. The spiroindole and spirooxindoles in this review are divided by the type and ring size of the spirocycle that is fused to indole or oxindole. Summarizing these procedures will be very beneficial for discovering novel therapeutic candidate molecules.

Stereoselective synthesis and applications of spirocyclic oxindoles

This review summaries recent synthetic developments towards spirocyclic oxindoles and applications as valuable medicinal and synthetic targets.

Box-copper catalyzed asymmetric inverse-electron-demand oxa-hetero-Diels–Alder reaction for efficient synthesis of spiro pyranyl-oxindole derivatives

A chiral Box/Cu catalyzed asymmetric IEDDA reaction between isatin-derived β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters and electron-rich olefins was developed, which provided chiral spiro oxindole-pyrans in excellent yields with excellent stereoselectivities.

Visible-Light-Induced Palladium-Catalyzed Generation of Aryl Radicals from Aryl Triflates

A mild visible-light-induced Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C-H arylation of amides is reported. The method operates by cleavage of a C(sp2 )-O bond, leading to hybrid aryl Pd-radical intermediates. The following 1,5-hydrogen atom translocation, intramolecular cyclization, and rearomatization steps lead to valuable oxindole and isoindoline-1-one motifs. Notably, this method provides access to products with readily enolizable functional groups that are incompatible with traditional Pd-catalyzed conditions.

Facile synthesis of fused polycyclic compounds via intramolecular oxidative cyclization/aromatization of β-tetralone or β-tetralone oximes

A mild and efficient NBS promoted intramolecular oxidative cyclization/aromatization of β-tetralone oximes has been explored. Under the optimized conditions, fused α-carbolines containing pentacyclic rings were obtained in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, various benzo[5,6]chromeno[2,3-b]indoles were successfully synthesized in moderate yields from β-tetralones using slightly modified conditions. We proposed a possible reaction pathway based on the experimental results.