A [3+2] cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,3′-pyrrolidines] and evaluation of cytotoxicity towards cancer cells

A new type of azomethine ylides, which was in situ generated by the reaction of ethyl glycinate hydrochloride and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, reacted with 3-phenacylideneoxindoline-2-ones in ethanol to give polysubstituted spiro[indoline-3,3′-pyrrolidines] in good yields.