Construction of dispirocyclohexanes via amine-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] annulations of Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates with exocyclic alkenes

Amine-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] annulations of one molecule of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates 1 with two molecules of 2-(arylmethylidene)indane-1,3-diones 2 or methyleneindolinones 4 have been developed under very mild conditions, which produce multistereogenic dispirocyclohexanes 3 and 5, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields and good diastereoselectivity. This amine-catalyzed annulation constitutes a novel and efficient method for the construction of dispirocyclohexane motifs, and also showcases the divergent catalysis between amines and phosphines with regard to the corresponding phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulations.