Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed amide directed spiroannulation with naphthoquinones: access to spiro-isoindolinone frameworks.

A mild ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed spiroannulation between benzamides and naphthoquinones is developed for the succinct synthesis of biologically relevant spiro-isoindolinone scaffolds. A base promoted transannulation of spirocyclic products en route to valuable benzo[b]phenanthridinetriones in good yields has also been accomplished.