Spiro[imidazol-5-one-4,1′-cyclopropanes]
behave as donor–acceptor
(D–A) cyclopropanes in a formal cycloaddition reaction with
aldehydes. The activation of such type of cyclopropanes is achieved
with an equivalent of Brønsted acid. The reaction proceeds in
high yields of 51–92% and demonstrates moderate diastereoselectivity
at the quaternary stereocenter, which is determined by the electron-donating
nature of the aldehyde partner. The ease of separation of stereoisomers
allowed the creation of a library of 44 spiroannulated tetrahydrofurans
with various substitution patterns.