title: New spirocyclic oxindole synthesis based on a hetero Claisen rearrangement.
abstract: [reaction: see text] A new method for preparing spirocyclic oxindoles is presented. Featuring a [3,3]-sigmatropic enolate rearrangement, the three-step process converts carboxylic acid starting materials to oxidnole products in overall yields of 52-76%. The enolate rearrangement step occurs at -78 degrees C and provides easy access to oxindole products that have previously been difficult to prepare.
authors.affiliation: Paul M. Gross Chemical Laboratory, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0346, USA.
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Baldwin