Tandem photocycloaddition-retro-mannich fragmentation of enaminones. A route to spiropyrrolines and the tetracyclic core of koumine.

[reaction: see text] Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of beta-aminoalkylidene malonates gives transiently a cyclobutane which undergoes retro-Mannich fragmentation to a Delta(1)-pyrroline. The tandem sequence, exemplified in two series based on tryptamine and aminoethyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene, leads to a spiroindolopyrroline skeleton and to the nonindolenine portion of koumine.