Squaramide-catalysed asymmetric Michael addition/cyclization cascade reaction of 4-arylmethylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidines with 2-isothiocyanato-1-indanones.

A highly efficient cinchona alkaloid-derived squaramide catalysed asymmetric Michael/cyclization cascade reaction of 4-arylmethylidene-2,3-dioxopyrrolidines with 2-isothiocyanato-1-indanones was successfully developed. This protocol provides an efficient and mild access to indanone-derived spiropyrrolidone scaffolds containing three contiguous stereocenters with two spiroquaternary stereocenters in excellent yields (up to 99%) with high enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to 99% ee and up to >20 : 1 dr). This method provides an economical and practical approach for the asymmetric synthesis of medicinally relevant molecules.