Rapid Access to Spirocylic Oxindoles: Application of Asymmetric N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed [3+3] Cycloaddition of Imines to Oxindole-Derived Enals

A chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of imines and oxindole-derived enals was developed for rapid access to spirocylic oxindoles. In most cases, the desired spirocylic oxindole products were obtained in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities with less than 1 h of reaction time.