Switchable Skeletal Rearrangement of Hexahydro-4 H -indol-4-ones: Divergent Synthesis of Dihydroxy-4 H -cyclopenta[ b ]pyridin-4-ones and 8-Alkenyl Oxepane-2,6-diones.

An unprecedented base-controlled selective skeletal rearrangement reaction of hexahydro-4 H -indol-4-ones has been developed. In this protocol, highly functionalized dihydroxy-4 H -cyclopenta[ b ]pyridin-4-ones and 8-alkenyl oxepane-2,6-diones were prepared with a broad substrate scope and high chemoselectivity in moderate to excellent yields selectively by modulating LiOH and Et 3 N. In addition, the newly formed 8-alkenyl oxepane-2,6-dione scaffolds could be easily further derivatized to 5-(pyrrol-2-yl)dihydrofuran-2(3 H )-ones through a rare intramolecular rearrangement reaction.