Cycloaddition of Fluorenone N-Aryl Nitrones with Methylenecyclopropanes and Sequential 1,3-Rearrangement: An Entry to Synthesis of Spirofluorenylpiperidin-4-ones.

A facile synthesis of various spirofluorenylpiperidin-4-ones has been achieved in good yields from fluorenone N-aryl nitrones and methylenecyclopropanes. This method involved an initial cycloaddition to form a 5-spirocyclopropane-isoxazoline, which underwent a highly selective 1,3-rearrangement to give the desired product. The stereochemistry of the spirofluorenylpiperidin-4-one could be controlled by the cycloaddition and sequential rearrangement strategy. Furthermore, the spirofluorenylpiperidin-4-ones could be not only prepared in one-pot procedure but also converted to useful scaffolds by reduction or oxidation conditions.