Pyridinium Ylide-Mediated Diastereoselective Synthesis of Spirocyclopropanyl-pyrazolones via Cascade Michael/Substitution Reaction

We have devised a highly diastereoselective formal 2 + 1 annulation reaction of arylidene/alkylidine-pyrazolones with in situ-generated supported as well as standard pyridinium ylides to construct spirocyclopropanyl-pyrazolones. The cascade approach exhibits a wide range of functional group tolerance, gram-scale capability, and substrate versatility. A diverse range of spirocyclic cyclopropanes was synthesized extensively with both mediators, and the supported pyridine was reused in subsequent cycles. Density functional theory calculations confirmed the formation of spirocyclopropane as the lower energy pathway.