Cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-Lewis acid-mediated regioselective umpolung formal [3 + 2] annulations of alkynyl aldehydes with isatins.

A novel and regioselective umpolung synthesis of spirooxindoles has been developed by cooperative NHC-Lewis acid-mediated formal [3 + 2] annulations of alkynyl aldehydes with isatins. In most cases, the reactions proceeded via a(3)-d(3) umpolung of alkynyl aldehydes resulting in spirooxindole butenolides. In a few cases, spirooxindole furan-3(2H)-ones were formed as the major products via an a(1)-d(1) umpolung process by controlling the reaction temperature. These newly formed spirooxindoles could provide promising candidates for chemical biology and drug lead discovery.