Cu/TEMPO catalyzed dehydrogenative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition in the synthesis of spirooxindoles as potential antidiabetic agents

Abstract

A series of spiro-[indoline-3,3'-pyrrolizin/pyrrolidin]-2-ones, 4, 5 and 6 were synthesized in a sequential manner from Cu-TEMPO catalyzed dehydrogenation of alkylated ketones, 1 followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides <i>via</i> decarboxylative condensation of isatin, 2 and l-proline/sarcosine, 3 in high regioselectivities and yields. The detailed mechanistic studies were performed to identify the reaction intermediates, which revealed that the reaction proceeds <i>via</i> dehydrogenative cycloaddition. Additionally, the regio and stereochemistry of the synthesized derivatives were affirmed by 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. The synthesized derivatives were explored further with molecular docking, <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant, and anti-diabetic activities.