Eco-Friendly Multi-Component Synthesis of γ-Spiroiminolactones in Water.

γ-Spiroiminolactone derivatives can be synthesized through an one-pot three-component reaction of cyclic carbonyl compounds (isatin, acenaphthoquinone, ninhydrin), activated α-methylene carbonyl groups and isocyanides in water using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a commercially available and cheap surfactant compound. All products were obtained in good to excellent yields without formation of any by-products in water as a green and benign reaction medium. Moreover, presented method was successfully applied for the synthesis of some novel bis(spiroiminolactone) derivatives.