[4 + 1] annulation reaction of cyclic pyridinium ylides with in situ generated azoalkenes for the construction of spirocyclic skeletons.

Two new types of cyclic pyridinium ylides were designed and further used in reactions with azoalkenes to access structurally diverse spirocyclic compounds. A range of spiropyrazoline oxindoles could be smoothly obtained in up to 99% yield via a [4 + 1] annulation process with oxindole 3-pyridinium ylides as C1 synthons. Similarly, a series of spiropyrazoline indanones could be prepared with indanone 2-pyridinium ylides as C1 synthons. This work represents the first example of cyclic pyridinium ylides as C1 synthons for the efficient construction of spirocyclic compounds.