Organocatalytic synthesis of spirocyclohexane indane-1,3-diones via a chiral squaramide-catalyzed Michael/aldol cascade reaction of γ-nitro ketones and 2-arylideneindane-1,3-diones

The paper presents an efficient and stereoselective method for constructing spirocyclohexane indane-1,3-diones. This method is based on a chiral squaramide-catalysed highly diastereo- and enantioselective cascade Michael/aldol reaction between γ-nitro ketones and 2-arylidene-1,3-indanedione that affords functionalised spirocyclohexane products in high chemical yields with the formation of three stereogenic centres (57–97%; up to >20:1 dr and 86% ee).

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