Copper acetate catalysed C-C bond formation to the synthesis of spiro indanedione cyclopropylpyrazolones.

This article reports the synthesis of spiro compounds based on an indanedione-cyclopropane-pyrazolone framework. The reaction relied upon the Michael-initiated ring closure strategy and was carried out under Cu(OAc) catalysis, assisted by an oxygen atmosphere and the base EtN. The final compounds were obtained as an inseparable mixture in most cases with modest to good yields using diverse substrates.

Iodine assisted synthesis of CF appended spirodihydrofuryl/cyclopropyl oxindoles by changing the active methylene sources.

This paper describes the synthesis of two distinct types of CF-containing spirooxindoles by varying the active methylene sources. The reaction was carried out in DMSO, assisted by molecular iodine and NaCOvia systematic application of Michael reaction and iodine mediated cyclisation. With 5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one as the methylene source, the final products obtained were spirodihydrofuropyrazolyl oxindoles, whereas 1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione as the methylene source gave the final compounds spirocyclopropyl oxindoles.

Total synthesis of the plant alkaloid racemic microthecaline A: first example of a natural product bearing a tricyclic quinoline-serrulatane scaffold.

The first total synthesis of racemic microthecaline A, a quinoline serrulatane alkaloid, isolated from the Australian desert plant is described. The natural product was synthesized in ten steps, starting from ethyl 4-bromo-6-methoxy-8-methylquinoline-3-carboxylate in 8% overall yield.