Molecular diversity of the reactions of MBH carbonates of isatins and various nucleophiles

• Zi-Ying Xiao,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 286–295, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.21

• addition of Lewis base is needed. When triphenylphosphine or tri(n-butyl)phosphine were involved in the reaction, the similar SN2’ substitution of tri(n-butyl)phosphine with the elimination of carbon dioxide and tert-butoxide anion gives the phosphonium salt C. Then, the deprotonation of phosphonium salt C

• by the tert-butoxide anion affords the zwitterionic intermediate D. In the case of triphenylphosphine, the similar zwitterionic intermediate D is stable and could be isolated as the product 6. In the case of tri(n-butyl)phosphine, Michael addition of the more activated zwitterionic intermediate D to

• MBH formate of isatin resulted in the intermediate E. Then, the elimination of carbon dioxide and tert-butoxide anion gives the intermediate F. Finally, the base-promoted elimination of tri(n-butyl)phosphine resulted in the Z/E isomers of the triene derivatives 7 or 8. Conclusion In summary, we have

Tri(n-butyl)phosphine-promoted domino reaction for the efficient construction of spiro[cyclohexane-1,3'-indolines] and spiro[indoline-3,2'-furan-3',3''-indolines]

• Hui Zheng,
• Ying Han,
• Jing Sun and
• Chao-Guo Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2022, 18, 669–679, doi:10.3762/bjoc.18.68

• Hui Zheng Ying Han Jing Sun Chao-Guo Yan College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002, China 10.3762/bjoc.18.68 Abstract The tri(n-butyl)phosphine-catalyzed reaction of isatylidene malononitriles and bis-chalcones in chloroform at 65 °C afforded

• functionalized spiro[cyclohexane-1,3'-indolines] in good yields and with good diastereoselectivity. On the other hand, the tri(n-butyl)phosphine-catalyzed reaction of 3-(ethoxycarbonylmethylene)oxindoles and bis-chalcones gave functionalized spiro[cyclohexane-1,3'-indolines] with different regioselectivity

• . Additionally, the tri(n-butyl)phosphine-promoted domino annulation reaction of isatins and ethyl isatylidene cyanoacetates produced spiro[indoline-3,2'-furan-3',3''-indolines] in satisfactory yields. Keywords: isatin; spiro[cyclohexane-1,3'-indoline]; spiro[indoline-3,2'-furan-3',3''-indoline]; spirooxindole