Copper-catalyzed desymmetric silylative-cyclization of 1,6-diynes for synthesis of spirocyclic compounds

Abstract

Spiro rings such as spirooxindoles and spiroindanones are core skeletons in many pharmaceutically active molecules and natural products. Herein, we developed a copper-catalyzed cascade silylation–cyclization reaction of 1,6-diynes which enabled the rapid construction of silyl-functionalized spirocyclic compounds. A variety of racemic and optically pure spirocyclic oxindole, indanone, quinolinone, and tetralone derivatives were obtained in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities and high stereoselectivities.