An asymmetric approach toward chiral multicyclic spirooxindoles from isothiocyanato oxindoles and unsaturated pyrazolones by a chiral tertiary amine thiourea catalyst

The first organocatalytic Michael-cyclization cascade reaction between isothiocyanato oxindoles and unsaturated pyrazolones has been developed. The multicyclic spiro[oxindole/thiobutyrolactam/pyrazolone] core structures containing three contiguous stereogenic centers, including two spiro quaternary centers, were prepared with excellent diastereo- (up to >20 : 1) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).