Asymmetric α-spirocyclopropanation of oxindoles and benzofuranones via dynamic kinetic resolution

Chiral benzo five-membered heterocyclic spirocyclopropanes are an important class of parent core structures with pharmacological activity. A novel organocatalytic one-pot cascade ether oxidation iminium-ion activation strategy for the asymmetric spirocyclopropylation of benzofuran-2-ones and indolin-2-ones from allyl tert-butyl ethers/ pent-2,4-dienyl ethyl ethers with excellent enantioselectivity (ee% up to > 99) and diastereoselectivity(dr.% up to 91:9) has been developed. This process involves the successful dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic 3-bromobenzofuran-2-ones or 3-bromoindolin-2-ones. Its synthetic application will provide a new aminocatalytic cascade tool for the efficient synthesis of complex molecules.