Synthesis of enantiopure indolizinones by cascade ring enlargements of 4'-chlorospiro[cyclopropane-1,5'-isoxazolidines].

2-Chloro-2-cyclopropylideneacetates (1-Me and 1-Et) and their spiropentane analogues 2 cycloadd enantiopure five-membered cyclic nitrones to give the corresponding adducts (quantitatively, four examples), which undergo cascade ring enlargements to yield indolizinone derivatives (53-70%, four examples). The ring enlargement process is triggered by the abstraction of a bridgehead proton induced by a base and can be suppressed by the presence of a bulky substituent nearby, such as a (triisopropylsilyl)oxy group.