The Divergent Cascade Reactions of Arylalkynols with Homopropargylic Amines or Electron-Deficient Olefins: Access to the Spiro-Isobenzofuran‑b‑pyrroloquinolines or Bridged-Isobenzofuran Polycycles

Two divergent cascade reactions of arylalkynols with homopropargylic amines or electron-deficient olefins were developed to synthesize the spiro-isobenzofuran-b-pyrroloquinolines or bridged-isobenzofuran heterocycles in good yields, respectively. One reaction actually involved intramolecular 5-endo-dig hydroamination cyclization–protonation of homopropargylic amines to give cycloiminium ions and intramolecular 5-exo-dig hydroalkoxylation cyclization of arylalkynols to generate isobenzofuran with exocyclic double bond, followed by the nontypical Povarov-type reaction in the presence of PtCl2/FeCl3 cocatalysts. The other underwent intramolecular hydroalkoxylation cycloisomerization of alkynols with the subsequent normal [4 + 2] cycoaddition with dienophiles. Herein, the arylalkynols acted as both “masked” electron-rich olefins and “masked” electron-rich dienes.