Electrochemical Post-Ugi Cyclization for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Spirolactams

The combination of the Ugi reaction and electro-organic
synthesis
can aid in the creation of novel heterocycles that have not been previously
explored. In this study, a new strategy utilizing bis-amides from
the Ugi reaction has been developed, which can produce C–S,
C–Se, and C–CO functionalized five-membered
spirolactams mediated by electricity under catalyst- and metal-free
conditions. Notably, this approach can be applied using a microelectro-flow
reactor (μ-EFR) for gram-scale synthesis. The described strategy
can synthesize complex azaspiro-fused tricyclic scaffolds with high
diastereo- and regioselectivity, highlighting its versatility and
potential.