Access to Spiroindolines and Spirodihydrobenzofurans via Pd-Catalyzed Domino Heck Spiroyclization through C–H Activation and Carbene Insertion

A new palladium-catalyzed domino approach for the synthesis of attractive spirocyclic indolines and dihydrobenzofurans was developed. The reaction proceeds through a sequential intramolecular Heck spirocyclization, remote C-H activation, and diazocarbonyl carbene insertion. Various spiroindolines and spirodihydrobenzofurans containing two quartenary carbon stereocenters were readily obtained in good to excellent yields. A preliminary study of asymmetric spirocyclization using chiral monophosphoramidite as a ligand was also conducted, enabling access to highly valuable chiral spiroindolines with up to 80% ee.