Organocatalytic asymmetric multicomponent cascade reaction via 1,3-proton shift and [3+2] cycloaddition: an efficient strategy for the synthesis of oxindole derivatives.

An efficient and powerful organocatalytic cascade reaction was achieved for the synthesis of biologically important chiral spiro[pyrrolidin-3,2'-oxindoles] using very simple and readily available starting materials. Three C-C bonds and four contiguous stereogenic centers including one quaternary stereocenter were established in a single operation with reasonable yields and good stereoselectivity.