Organocatalytic asymmetric [3 + 3] annulations of isatin-derived MBH carbonates and indolin-2-imines have been efficiently achieved. This appears to be the first enantioselective approach to use isatin-derived MBH carbonates as...

Carbon bisnucleophiles are important building blocks in organic synthesis and have widespread applications in the construction of carbocyclic compounds. Among them, 1,2‐carbon bisnucleophile has been much less explored. Herein, we developed a [2+3] annulation of 2‐(2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl)malononitrile with 2‐nitroallylic acetates, where 2‐(2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl)malononitrile served as a new type of 1,2‐carbon bisnucleophile. Remarkably, the annulation reaction exhibits exclusive chemo‐ and regioselectivity. A Michael addition/SN2 mechanism was proposed to avoid the “anti‐Baldwin” cyclization. This stereoselective strategy provides a facile synthetic route for a new series of spirocyclopentane oxindole derivatives containing three stereogenic centers.

An efficient TsOH-catalyzed consecutive biscyclization cascade reaction of dithioallylic alcohols with 1-styrylnaphthols is demonstrated for the concise construction of pharmaceutically important cyclopenta[b]dihydrobenzofurans scaffolds. This process involved an acid-catalyzed (3+2) cycloaddition...