A [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition route to 3-hydroxy-3-alkyl oxindoles: an approach to pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids.

A [3 + 2] cycloaddition approach to the 3-hydroxy-3-alkyl oxindole scaffold is described. Isoxazolines obtained by cycloaddition of nitrile oxide 3 with 3-methylene oxindoles were elaborated to 3-hydroxy-3-cyanomethyl oxindoles employing a one-pot protocol en route to the pyrrolidinoindoline moiety which is found in many natural products. The total syntheses of alkaloids (±)-alline and (±)-CPC-1 were achieved using this methodology.