The copper-catalyzed asymmetric construction of a dispiropyrrolidine skeleton via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α-alkylidene succinimides.

A highly efficient asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α-alkylidene succinimides catalyzed by a novel chiral N,O-ligand/Cu(OAc)2 system is reported, affording dispiropyrrolidine derivatives with spiro quaternary stereogenic centers in good to excellent yields (up to 90%), excellent levels of diastereoselectivities (＞20 : 1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]