Nucleophilic Ring Opening of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes with the Cyanate Ion: Access to Spiro[pyrrolidone-3,3′-oxindoles]

The nucleophilic ring opening of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes with the cyanate ion is reported for the first time. Cyclopropanes, spiro-activated with oxindole fragments as acceptors, are shown to undergo transformations into biologically relevant spiro­[pyrrolidone-3,3′-oxindoles] while being treated with potassium cyanate under microwave assistance.