Stereocontrolled Formation of a [4.4]Heterospiro Ring System with Unexpected Inversion of Configuration at the Spirocenter

Stereoselective construction of the 1,3-diazaspiro[4.4]nonane core skeleton of massadine and related dimeric pyrrole–imidazole alkaloids is a synthetic challenge. We describe herein the synthesis of all C13/14 diastereomers of this spiro molecule through controlled oxidation and epimerization of the C13 spirocenter under mild acidic conditions.