Entry to new spiroheterocycles via tandem Rh(II)-catalyzed O–H insertion/base-promoted cyclization involving diazoarylidene succinimides

A facile approach to novel medicinally relevant spiro heterocyclic scaffolds (namely furan-2(5 H )-ones, tetrahydrofurans and pyrans spiro-conjugated with the succinimide ring) has been developed. The protocol consists of Rh(II)-catalyzed insertion of heterocyclic carbenes derived from diazoarylidene succinimides (DAS) into the O–H bond of propiolic/allenic acids or brominated alcohols, followed by base-promoted cyclization to afford the target spirocyclic compounds in good to high yields.