Synthesis of spiro[isoquinolinone-4,2′-oxiranes] and isoindolinones via a multicomponent reaction of 2-acetyl-oxirane-2-carboxamides, arylaldehydes and malononitrile

Efficient synthesis of spiro[isoquinolinone-4,2′-oxiranes] was achieved based on a multicomponent one-pot reaction of readily available cis-2-acetyl-oxirane-2-carboxamides, arylaldehydes and malononitrile at room temperature. However, in the reaction with trans-2-acetyl-oxirane-2-carboxamide substrates, 3-iminoisoindolinones were obtained in moderate to high yields.