Selective Synthesis of Spirooxindoles by an Intramolecular Heck-Mizoroki Reaction.

We report a highly diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopentene-spirooxindole derivatives via an intramolecular Heck-Mizoroki reaction using aryl bromides as precursors. The reactions were performed under dry conditions or in a DMF-water system. This protocol can be useful to introduce several functionalities to the aromatic nucleus of the spirooxindoles. DFT calculations were performed to rationalize the high antiselectivity. A functionalized spiroproduct was transformed into a cyclic amino acid derivative.