Synthesis of 2-spiropseudoindoxyls via an intramolecular nitroalkyne redox-dipolar cycloaddition cascade.

Novel spiropseudoindoxyls were synthesized in high yields via a fully regioselective Au(III)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of easily obtainable o-nitrophenylpropiolamides, followed by an intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition as key steps. This one-pot cascade reaction resulted in new tetracyclic pseudoindoxyls, which were hydrogenated toward the title compounds as single diastereomers via N-O cleavage. The mechanism of the gold catalyzed cycloisomerization was studied by DFT and suggests a reaction path without the intermediacy of gold carbenoid species in these cases.