Synthesis of spiro[furan-3,3′-indolin]-2′-ones by PET-catalyzed [3+2] reactions of spiro[indoline-3,2′-oxiran]-2-ones with electron-rich olefins

An efficient procedure for the synthesis of spiro[furan-3,3′-indolin]-2-ones and dispiro[cycloalkane-1,2′-furan-3′,3″-indolin]-2″-ones has been achieved in high yields and stereoselectivity by photoinduced electron transfer-catalyzed [3+2] reactions of substituted spiro[indoline-3,2′-oxiran]-2-ones with olefins. The reactions proceed by ring opening of spiro[indoline-3,2′-oxiran]-2-ones via Cβ–O bond cleavage and subsequent cycloaddition with olefins by using 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium tetarfluoroborate (TPT) as a sensitizer.