Facile synthesis of azaspirocycles via iron trichloride-promoted cyclization/chlorination of cyclic 8-aryl-5-aza-5-tosyl-2-en-7-yn-1-ols.

A simple and efficient FeCl(3)-promoted cyclization/chlorination of cyclic tosylamine-tethered 8-aryl-2-en-7-yn-1-ols was observed. The reaction proceeded instantaneously at 23 °C in air to afford (Z)-4-(arylchloromethylene)-substituted azaspirocycles in good to excellent yields. This transformation can also be applied to the synthesis of spirocarbocyclic analogues from cyclic 8-aryl-2-en-7-yn-1-ols and FeCl(3).