Novel asymmetric synthesis of spiroindene-1,3dione-pyrrolidines via CoII/amino acids complex catalysed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and 2-arylidenindane-1,3-diones

Abstract

Cobalt II(l-phenylalanine)2 was used effectively for the first time in a catalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 2-arylidenindane-1,3-diones, affording a series of novel spiropyrrolidine derivatives with good to high yields (up to 90%), excellent diastereoselectivities (only exo’-3 were detected), and good enantioselectivities (up to 87% ee).