Organocatalytic enantioselective (4+3) cyclization for the synthesis of spiro-fused heterocyclic compounds containing isoindolinone, oxepine and indole moieties

A refined strategy has been developed to control the regioselective asymmetric (4+3) cyclization of α-(3-isoindolinonyl) propargylic alcohols with 2-indolylmethanols, utilizing chiral phosphoric acid catalysis. This innovative organocatalytic cyclization yields spiro isoindolinone-oxepine-fused indoles featuring a spiro-quaternary stereocenter in high yields and enantioselectivities, facilitated by the solvent of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and the additive of hexafluoroisopropanol. Additionally, the photophysical properties of product 3k are examined, revealing bright fluorescence both in the solution and the solid state.