Highly diastereoselective synthesis of spiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-ones via catalyst-free cyclopropanation using ethyl diazoacetate

Substituted 3-methyleneindolin-2-ones were efficiently cyclopropanated with ethyl diazoacetate to yield spiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-ones in a catalyst-free and highly diastereoselective reaction in a mixture of ethanol–acetonitrile (1:1 v/v) as solvent.