A thermally-induced, tandem [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/[2 + 2] cycloaddition approach to carbocyclic spirooxindoles.

The synthesis of C3-carbocyclic spirooxindoles was realized by way of an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between a vinylidene indolin-2-one and an alkyne. The cycloaddition reaction occurs selectively with the distal double bond of the allene, is tolerant of a phenyl and trimethylsilyl group on the terminus of the alkyne, and can be used to access bicyclo[4.2.0]octadienes and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonadienes. The allene precursors are not observed, but are likely intermediates of an infrequently encountered thermal [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of a propargylic acetate.