Electrosynthesis of Dihydropyrano[4,3-b]indoles Based on a Double Oxidative [3+3] Cycloaddition.

Oxidative [3+3] cycloadditions offer an efficient route for six-membered-ring formation. This approach has been realized based on an electrochemical oxidative coupling of indoles/enamines with active methylene compounds followed by tandem 6π-electrocyclization leading to the synthesis of dihydropyrano[4,3-b]indoles and 2,3-dihydrofurans. The radical-radical cross-coupling of the radical species generated by anodic oxidation combined with the cathodic generation of the base from O2 allows for mild reaction conditions for the synthesis of structurally complex heterocycles.

Enantioselective formal [3+3] cycloadditions of ketones and cyclic 1-azadienes by cascade enamine-enamine catalysis.

An asymmetric formal [3+3] cycloaddition process with diversely structured aliphatic ketones and electron-deficient cyclic 1-azadienes was developed by cascade enamine-enamine catalysis of a cinchona-based primary amine. This sequence involved a domino Michael addition-Mannich reaction to afford spirocyclic architectures in excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Importantly, high regioselectivity was realized for a number of unsymmetrical aliphatic ketone substrates.