Spiroheterocycles via Regioselective Cycloaddition Reactions of Nitrile Oxides with 5-Methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones

Abstract

Substituted 5-methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with nitrile oxides to give the corresponding spiro heterocycles. Critical to this reaction was the development of a biphasic system for base-induced dehydrohalogenation of hydroximoyl chlorides, to give nitrile oxides, in the presence of a base-sensitive dipolarophile. A substituted N-tolyl 5-methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one exhibited atropisomerism, which in turn led to a 4:1 facial selectivity during cycloaddition.