Organocatalytic Domino Reaction of Spiroaziridine Oxindoles and Malononitrile for the Enantiopure Synthesis of Spiro[dihydropyrrole-3,3′-oxindoles]

The first organocatalytic regio- and stereoselective domino reactions of spiroaziridine oxindoles and malononitrile have been developed using DBU as a catalyst without any metal/Lewis acid activation for the enantiopure synthesis of spiro­[dihydropyrrole-3,3′-oxindoles] (ee up to >99%). The protocol is also equally effective for the phenyl aziridine with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity.