N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed reaction of enals and 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds: stereoselective synthesis of spiro gamma-butyrolactones.

[reaction: see text]. Nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed annulation of enals and cyclic 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, opening a route to gamma-spirolactones, has been observed for the first time. The strategy works well with isatins, leading to spiroannulated oxindole derivatives. It is conceivable that the spiroannulation protocol reported herein will be applicable to the synthesis of important natural products that are endowed with a spiro gamma-butyrolactone motif, especially oxindoles and norsesquiterpenoids.