Cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides with a 9-fluorenone-malononitrile Knِevenagel adduct

Numerous derivatives of spiropyrrolidines and spiropyrrolizines containing cyano groups were successfully synthesized via condensation of sarcosine and proline Schiff bases of several aromatic aldehydes with the Knِevenagel adduct of 9-fluorenone-malononitrile prepared through a modified procedure. Assignment of the molecular structure was carried out by single crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as by HMBC and ROSEY spectroscopy.