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Rhodium-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions are a powerful tool for the construction of polycyclic compounds. Combined experimental and DFT studies were used to investigate the temperature-controlled chemoselectivity of cationic rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular cycloaddition reactions of ene-vinylidenecyclopropanes. After a series of mechanistic studies, it was found that trace amounts of water in the reaction system play an important role in generating the product with endo double bond located on a five-membered ring and revealed that trace amounts of water in the reaction system, including the rhodium catalyst, substrate and solvent, were sufficient to promote the formation of the product with endo double bond located on a five-membered ring, and additional water could not further accelerate the reaction. DFT calculation results show that the addition of water indeed significantly lowers the energy barrier of the proton transfer step, making the formation of the product with endo double bond located on a five-membered ring more likely to occur and confirming the rationality of water-assisted proton transfer occurring in the selective access to the product with endo double bond located on a five-membered ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a gold(I)‐catalyzed cascade cyclization of N‐ or O‐nucleophile tethered‐vinylidenecyclopropanes (VDCPs), resulting in the synthesis of pyrrole, furan, pyrrolidine, and piperidine skeletons in 30%‐98% yields. Depending on the carbon chain length connecting the nucleophile and VDCPs, two reaction pathways are available, leading to different products. Both α‐amino VDCPs and α‐hydroxyl VDCPs, where nucleophiles and VDCPs are connected by a methylene group, undergo intramolecular nucleophilic addition and aromatization, followed by ring‐opening of the cyclopropane unit to produce substituted pyrroles and furans. By extending the chain length to three or four carbons, it becomes possible to form pyrrolidines and piperidines with a cyclobutene moiety via ring expansion of the cyclopropane unit, accompanied by gold carbene induced vinylogous nucleophilic addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkynes as unsaturated hydrocarbons have long been used for cyclization reactions. Various transition metal-catalyzed cyclizations of alkynes have been reported in the past decades. In this minireview, we mainly summarize the recent asymmetric cyclization of alkynes with other functional groups such as carbonyl-alkynes, cyano-alkynes, and enynes under the catalytic system of nickel and chiral ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: A copper‐catalyzed [5+1] cycloaddition reaction of terminal alkynes with diazo esters for the rapid construction of protected naphthalen‐1(2H)‐one derivatives in moderate to good yields has been disclosed along with good functional group compatibility and a broad substrate scope. The mechanistic investigations reveal that this tandem cyclization process proceeds through a Cu(I)‐catalyzed coupling of terminal alkyne with diazoacetate, a 1,5‐H shift process and a thermally induced pericyclic reaction via an allene intermediate. The synthetic utility and the further transformations of the obtained cycloadduct to naphthalenone, naphthol and dihydronaphthol have been also presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cascade cyclization from Weinreb amide‐tethered methylenecyclopropanes and alkynes has been disclosed in this paper, which extends the umpolung ring opening of methylenecyclopropanes, giving a synthetic approach for the construction of polycyclic cyclopenta[b]naphthalenol framework. In the protocol, four carbon‐carbon bonds and two carbocycles are formed without the use of transition metals, providing a tool for constructing the structure‐related polycyclic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a method that provides an array of benzocyclobutanol and benzocyclobutylamine derivatives with broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. The reaction proceeds by engaging triplet biradical atom transfer of olefinic compounds in the activation of remote C(sp3)−H bonds upon visible‐light irradiation. The reaction mechanism involves the generation of triplet excited state of diarylethylene derivative and subsequent HAT process, and then the further ring‐closing reaction affording the product via an electrocyclization process. The plausible mechanism is supported by control and deuterium labeling experiments, kinetic analysis, and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ring-opening/cyclization cascade reaction of α-brominated amide-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes in the presence of photocatalyst 4CzIPN under visible-light irradiation was developed to afford polycyclic benzazepine derivatives in good yields with broad substrate scope and good functional tolerance. A plausible mechanism involving a halogen atom transfer (XAT) process and a radical chain process is proposed for this reaction. This study provides a concise and practical strategy for the synthesis of benzazepine derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermally‐induced intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of allylamino‐ or allyloxy‐tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes has been reported in this paper, giving a new protocol for the rapid construction of polycyclic skeleton molecules in moderate to excellent yields with a broad substrate scope. On the basis of control experiments and DFT calculations, we disclosed that the reaction proceeded through a [4+2] cycloaddition and trace of water assisted 1,3‐H shift process to give the target product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method was developed for the synthesis of spiro[azepane-4,3′-indol]-2′(1′ H)-ones in yields of up to 96% with a broad substrate scope by using oxotryptamines as dual-nucleophilic reagents to react with allenoates in the presence of cesium carbonate under mild conditions. In accord with previous works and a deprotonation-tracing experiment, a plausible reaction mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing silver/rhodium relay catalysis strategy, an intramolecular electrophilic cyclization and C−H activation followed by cascade hydrogenation and reductive amination has been developed. The acylmethylated isoquinoline derivatives could be afforded with broad substrate scope in 23–88% yields, which could be further transformed to the core skeleton of hexahydrodibenzo[a,g]quinolizine as drug‐candidates. Moreover, this reaction was achieved in a gram‐scale. A reasonable reaction mechanism has been proposed based on a series of control and KIE experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A palladium-catalyzed divergent synthesis of spirooxindoles fused with a five- or a six-membered ring by a cycloaddition reaction of vinylidenecyclopropane-diesters with methyleneindolinones was disclosed. This protocol features an in situ generated unprecedented zwitterionic π-propargyl palladium species in cycloaddition reactions and a switchable process between (3+2) and (4+2) cycloadditions by changing the phosphine ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral tertiary phosphines are versatile Lewis base catalysts capable of promoting a wide range of asymmetric reactions. In particular, the recent designed chiral phosphines based on the concept of bi‐/multifunctionality have been demonstrated to be effective catalysts for many types of asymmetric reactions such as (aza)‐MBH reaction/RC reaction, cycloaddition reaction, domino reaction, nucleophilic addition reaction, etc. This review summarizes the recent advances in this field and highlights the selected significant achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary of main observation and conclusion: A RhIII/AgI relay‐catalyzed C(sp2)—H coupling of indoles with triarylhexahydrotriazine (THT) is reported in this context. Upon merging RhIII‐catalyzed C(sp2)—H bond activation and silver promoted THT dissociation, an efficient indole's C3 aminomethylation protocol is uncovered, providing C3 aminomethyl indoles in good yields and exhibiting potential applications for the synthesis of complicated bioactive compounds. We revealed the C3‐selectivity of this reaction through a detailed mechanistic investigation. Meanwhile, during the examination of the reaction conditions, we discovered another [4+2] cycloaddition pathway to afford tetrahydro‐indolo[3,2‐c]quinoline scaffold products via silver or Lewis acid catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spirooxindole unit is one of the most widely investigated compound skeletons existing in numerous natural and pharmaceutical molecules. Thus, a large number of synthetic methodologies have already been reported to construct such a core structure. The trifluoromethyl group is another privileged unit in organic chemistry. The introduction of a CF3 group to an organic framework can significantly improve the properties of the molecule. In this context, an efficient approach for the construction of trifluoromethyl‐containing spirooxindoles becomes a promising research direction among communities of industry and academia. In this Minireview, recent advances in the construction of trifluoromethyl‐containing spirooxindoles have been summarized and discussed. In addition, representative synthetic methodologies and the corresponding reaction mechanisms have been described as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dimerization and cyclization cascade reaction of 2‐sulfonaminoacrylates catalyzed by K2CO3 provides dihydro‐2‐oxopyrrole (DPO) derivatives. This straightforward and atom‐economic transformation features a simple experimental operation with easily available starting materials, a broad substrate scope as well as good functional group tolerance. The desired DPO building blocks are obtained in moderate to good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phosphine‐catalyzed intermolecular annulation reaction of functionalized ortho‐aminoacetophenones with alkynones has been disclosed in this paper. A variety of 2‐alkynylquinolines and benzo‐fused indolizine were selectively afforded in moderate to good yields at different reaction temperatures and with different phosphine catalysts via the in situ generated zwitterionic intermediate derived from alkynone and phosphine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalyst‐free self‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of 3‐isothiocyanato oxindoles with vinylpyridines has been established, affording the desired products in high yields (up to 97 %) with moderate to good diastereoselectivities (up to 11:1) under mild conditions. The reaction mechanism has been investigated by control experiments, DFT calculations of pKa values and the kinetic studies, revealing that this reaction featured the mutual activation between 3‐isothiocyanato oxindole and vinylpyridine to generate the reactive species. Furthermore, these products could be easily transformed into the corresponding methylated and hydroxylated products under basic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient temperature‐dependent organocatalyzed asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α‐substituted isocyanoacetates to β‐trifluoromethylated enones by cinchona alkaloid‐derived squaramide has been investigated, affording the optically active trifluoromethylated 2‐pyrrolines in excellent yields (up to 98 %) and high stereoselectivities (>20:1 dr, up to >99 % ee) under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A catalyst‐free self‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of isatin‐derived α‐(trifluoromethyl)imines with vinylpyridines is reported. The reaction offers a straightforward and atom‐economical procedure for the preparation of a series of 5′‐trifluoromethyl‐spiro[pyrrolidin‐3,2′‐oxindoles] in excellent yields and diastereoselectivities. The reaction mechanism has been investigated by control experiments, DFT calculation of pKa values and the kinetic profiles, revealing that this reaction featured the mutual activation between isatin‐derived α‐(trifluoromethyl)imines and vinylpyridine to generate the reactive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A facile synthesis of benzonitriles via a base‐promoted tandem cyclization reaction of α,β‐unsaturated enones having electron‐withdrawing group (EWG) and 2‐acyl‐acrylonitriles was developed. This new synthetic method to access benzonitriles is suitable for a wide range of substrates. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of previous literature and our own investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel gold(i)-catalyzed intramolecular tandem cyclization reaction of ortho-(arylethynyl)arenemethylenecyclopropanes provided an efficient approach to prepare functionalized 11H-benzo[a]fluorene derivatives in moderate to good yields. Further transformations as well as applications of the products have been presented and a plausible reaction mechanism has also been proposed on the basis of deuterium labeling and control experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we disclose a novel strategy for the phosphine-catalyzed cycloaddition/SN2 substitution domino reaction, giving functionalized O-bridged benzoazepine and benzoxazepine derivatives in moderate to good yields. Changing the N-H protecting group of ortho-aminotrifluoroacetophenone derivatives gave different bridged-ring products in one step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-step stereoselective synthetic method of 14-membered aza-macrocyclic dimers has been developed by a Lewis acid-catalyzed ring-opening and intermolecular cyclization reaction of aniline-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes, affording 14-membered aza-macrocyclic dimers (mainly as E-configuration) in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Pt(ii)-catalyzed cyclization of (hetero)aryl-allenes has been developed, providing controllable synthesis of substituted 2,3-dihydropyrroles and polyheterocyclic skeletons. Another notable feature of this method is the dual-role of the Pt(ii) catalyst: initiation of the migration of the (hetero)arylmethylene group and the subsequent Friedel–Crafts type annulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new zwitterion generated from different electron-deficient alkenes and phosphines has been designed and its reactivity was explored. We demonstrated that this new zwitterion directed a novel [2+1+2] cycloaddition reaction between vinylpyridines and isatin-derived electron-deficient alkenes, affording spirocyclopenteneoxindole derivatives containing three stereocenters in moderate to good yields with good diastereoselectivities. A plausible mechanism has been proposed relying on preliminary mechanistic investigations and supported by theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of ortho-(propargyloxy)arenemethylenecyclopropanes afforded two different types of products, that is, products of methylenecyclopropane migration and cycloisomerization products of the methylenecyclopropane moiety, controlled jointly by electronic and steric effects of the adjacent substituents. Furthermore, the corresponding cycloisomerization products could be also produced in an enantiomerically enriched manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interesting silver(I)-catalyzed, one-pot intramolecular cyclization of epoxide-propargylic esters is described. A variety of 1,4-oxazine derivatives were obtained through a novel domino sequence, including three-membered ring-opening, 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement, 6- exo-cycloisomerization and subsequent intramolecular elimination in moderate yields under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of aniline-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant through β-carbon elimination of aminopalladation intermediates is disclosed. The reaction opens up an effective way to obtain a series of 2- and 3-vinylindoles which are important synthetic intermediates in many natural indole derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile synthetic method has been developed to access alkylidenephthalan and alkylidenethiophthalan derivatives through the cyclization of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles in a rhodium(II)-catalyzed rearrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-catalyzed cascade cyclization of 1,5-enynes with two types of hypervalent reagents was developed via consecutive trifluoromethylazidation/diazidation and intramolecular click reaction (CUAAC), providing one-pot self-assembly of triazole fused isoindolines bearing a trifluoromethyl or an azide moiety. Moreover, the construction of a trifluoromethylcyclopropyl unit, which has been considered as a metabolically stable replacement for a tert-butyl moiety and was difficult to access, was also achieved under trifluoromethylazidation conditions. All these reactions exhibited excellent chemoselectivity, good to excellent yields and broad functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel cinchona-alkaloid-derived organocatalyst has been developed to catalyze the asymmetric regioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with dibenzylidene ketones. A series of spirooxindole enols could be obtained in high yields with good-to-excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel intramolecular cycloisomerizations of nitrogen-tethered cyclopropenes with indole in the presence of Brønsted acids have been developed. The reactions proceeded through the same pathway but stopped at different stages according to different substituent styles, affording azocino[5,4-b]indole 2 and (epiminoethano)cyclopenta[b]indole 4 in moderate to good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective synthetic protocol for structurally diverse 4-acyloxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline compounds has been accomplished by a gold(i)-catalyzed tandem [3,3]-rearrangement and intramolecular hydroamination of propargylic esters, affording the desired products in good yields. Moreover, the asymmetric variant of this cyclization has also been achieved using a chiral nitrogen acyclic carbene (NAC) gold(i) complex. These products have application in the enantioselective synthesis of an aromatase inhibitor within three simple steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented palladium-catalyzed cascade cyclization of allylamine-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes with an ethyl difluoroiodoacetate or perfluoroalkylated reagent is developed, providing facile access to a variety of synthetically and medicinally valuable iodine/difluoromethylene- and perfluoroalkyl-containing 1-benzazepine frameworks. These reactions exhibited good yields and functional group tolerance via a radical mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a facile synthetic method to access furoquinoline and thienoquinoline derivatives via a thermally induced ring-opening and cyclization reaction from ortho-aminoaryl-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes with the in situ generation of isocyanates or isothiocyanates. These reactions exhibited excellent yields and functional group tolerance under metal-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile synthetic method to access 3-substituted isoquinoline or dihydroisoquinoline derivatives has been developed via a novel cyclization reaction of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives by thermally induced rearrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective one-pot procedure for the synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives containing N- or O-heterocycles has been developed through a two-step rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition and gold-catalyzed heterocyclization under mild conditions. The substrate scope has been investigated and a plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed on the basis of control experiments and previous literature reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of medium-sized heterocycles possessing a trans double bond is still a challenge. Herein, gold(i)-catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular cyclopropanation/ring enlargement cascade reaction of furans has been developed, providing highly efficient access to ten- and eleven-membered heterocycles with a broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions. The reaction outcome features high chemoselectivity at the C5-position of furan. Moreover, a trans-double bond was embodied in the medium ring system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly efficient organocatalytic enantioselective [3+2] cyclization of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with trifluoromethylated 2-butenedioic acid diesters for the synthesis of spirooxindoles possessing a CF3-containing quaternary carbon stereocenter was explored. An enantiodivergent approach for the synthesis of spirooxindoles by regulation of the temperature was demonstrated at different temperatures. The outcome of the reaction featured high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Several interesting enantioenriched spirooxindole derivatives bearing a trifluoromethyl quaternary carbon stereocenter were synthesized from the products of this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemoselective [4+2] vs. [2+2] cycloaddition between allenoates and dithioesters can be controlled by switching the nucleophilic amine catalyst. The two modes of cyclizations represent the first example of controllable and chemoselective annulations between allenoates and dienophiles catalyzed by amine. These cyclizations are useful in offering a divergent synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocycles. On the basis of this investigation, it can be realized that dithioesters with a vicinal electron-withdrawing group can react not only like a Michael acceptor but also as a ketone or imine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RhII-catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of 2 H-azirines with N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles is disclosed, in which a series of fully functionalized pyrroles is produced via rhodium azavinyl carbene intermediates. A distinct feature of this reaction is that the azavinyl carbene serves as a [2 C] equivalent, instead of as [1 C] or aza-[3 C] synthons, which have been reported previously in cyclopropanations and [3+ n] cycloadditions. Moreover, this methodology has also been successfully applied in the total synthesis of URB447 as well as the formal synthesis of Atorvastatin (Lipitor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold- and silver-catalyzed novel intramolecular cycloisomerizations of nitrogen or carbon-tethered indolylcyclopropenes to furnish biologically and pharmaceutically valuable azepino-[4,5- b]indole and spiro[indoline-3,4′-piperidine] derivatives have been developed. Both reactions exhibit high chemoselectivity and stereospecificity through completely different reaction pathways. Based on mechanistic studies, it is well demonstrated that gold and silver catalysts act differently to promote the anti- and syn-addition and the steric effect of the catalysts play an important role to switch the addition mode, affording the catalyst-controlled-divergent synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloadditions of C,N-cyclic azomethine imines with δ-substituted allenoates have been developed in the presence of ( S)-Me-f-KetalPhos, affording functionalized tetrahydroquinoline frameworks in good yields with high diastereo- and good enantioselectivities under mild condition. The substrate scope has been also examined. This is the first time that δ-substituted allenoates have been applied as a δ,γ-CC bond participated C2 synthon in asymmetric synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient palladium(0)-catalyzed asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition using 3-diazooxindoles serving as dipolarophiles affords functionalized pyrazolidine derivatives in an atom-economical way. In addition, by trapping the pyrazolidine derivatives with maleimides, the corresponding spiropyrazolidine oxindoles containing multiple stereogenic centers have been obtained in high yields along with moderate to good levels of diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity under mild conditions. Thus, a novel three-component one-pot tandem reaction has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel phosphine-catalyzed [4+1] annulation of maleimides with 4,4-dicyano-2-methylenebut-3-enoates has been developed to afford spirocyclic products, and the maleimides serves as C1 synthons. Moreover, a phosphine-catalyzed formal [3+2] annulation between 4,4-dicyano-2-methylenebut-3-enoates and maleic anhydride has been also achieved, and maleic anhydride behaved as a C3 synthon in the reaction, thus efficiently affording the functionalized cyclopentenones. A stable phosphinium-containing zwitterionic compound is the key reactive intermediate in both annulations and was successfully isolated. Plausible mechanisms have been proposed on the basis of control experiments and deuterium-labeling experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of bispirooxindoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of in situ generated azomethine ylides from isatin and proline to different electron-deficient alkenes has been developed. The synthesis affords the desired bispiro scaffold compounds in excellent yields with high regioselectivity under mild conditions. The stereochemistry was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel type of yne-vinylidenecyclopropanes (VDCPs) has been synthesized and applied in gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions. It was found that these compounds can undergo an intramolecular cycloisomerization and perform as a three-carbon synthon for [3+2] cycloaddition under gold catalysis to give fused [4.3.0] and [5.3.0] bicyclic derivatives and VDCP rearranged products in moderated to good yields under mild conditions. The substrate scope of these novel transformations has been explored and plausible reaction mechanisms have been presented on the basis of deuterium labeling experiments and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first highly enantioselective formal [4+2] tandem cyclizations between isatylidenemalononitriles and activated dienes catalyzed by bifunctional chiral phosphine catalysts have been developed, yielding multistereogenic spirocyclic oxindoles in high yields and excellent optical purity. This reaction is accomplished via a tandem Rauhut-Currier/Michael/Rauhut-Currier reaction sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An efficient and practical method for construction of 2-arylbenzo[b]furans from 2-methoxychalcone epoxides has been reported. Catalyzed by 2 mol % of BF3·Et2O, 2-methoxychalcone epoxides went through the Meerwein rearrangement, followed by deformylation in one-pot to successfully afforded 2-methoxydeoxybenzoins. Afterward, 2-arylbenzo[b]furans were obtained in high yields (87%–100%) via intermolecular cyclodehydration of 2-methoxydeoxybenzoins with 48% HBr. By utilization of this approach, the natural product stemofuran A and the key intermediate of eupomatenoid 6 have been synthesized conveniently. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of (3-isothiocyanato)oxindoles with azodicarboxylates has been explored in the presence of (DHQD)2PHAL. It affords spirooxindoles having two heterocycles at their C3′-position in excellent yields, with high enantioselectivities, and under mild conditions within 5 min. Moreover, another spirooxindole derived from the reaction of (3-isothiocyanato)oxindole with two molecules of azodicarboxylate could also be formed in excellent yields with the same high enantioselectivities under the standard conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]