Electrocatalytic multicomponent transformation of cyclic 1,3-diketones, isatins, and malononitrile:: facile and convenient way to functionalized spirocyclic (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene)-4,3′-oxindole system

An electrochemically induced catalytic multicomponent transformation of cyclic 1,3-diketones, isatins, and malononitrile in alcohols in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium bromide as an electrolyte results in the formation of spirooxindoles with fused functionalized 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene system in 83-98% yields. The application of this efficient electrocatalytic method to the formation of medicinally relevant spirocyclic (4H-chromene)-4,3'-oxindoles is beneficial from the viewpoint of diversity-oriented large-scale processes and represents novel, facile, and environmentally benign synthetic concept for multicomponent reaction strategy. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.