An expedient approach for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of novel spiroindolizidines via [3+2] cycloaddition

A new series of spiroindolizidines was synthesized by one-pot, three-component condensation of azomethine ylides, generated from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline with ninhydrin or isatin derivatives by a 1,5-prototropic shift route, with various derivatives of trans-β-nitrostyrene in a regio- and stereoselective manner. X-ray crystal structure analysis and NMR spectroscopic data confirmed the structure outcome of the cycloaddition reaction.