Chemoselective and Regioselective Synthesis of Spiroisoindolinone Indenes via an Intercepted Meyer–Schuster Rearrangement/Intramolecular Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Relay

A Brønsted acid-catalyzed reaction between isoindolinone-derived propargylic alcohols and external aromatic nucleophiles for the construction of spiroisoindolinone indenes is described. The reaction proceeds rapidly with a broad range of substrates to generate spiroindenes chemoselectively and regioselectively in moderate to high yields. Key to the success of this transformation is an intercepted Meyer–Schuster rearrangement/intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation relay that offers a modular approach in the synthesis of target compounds.