A catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of chiral palladium-containing N1-1,3-dipoles with methyleneindolinones has been successfully developed. The reaction allows an efficient construction of 3,3′-pyrrolinyl spirooxindoles with high yields and excellent stereoselectivities (up to 93 % yield, 19:1 d.r. and >99 % ee). A synthetic application of this methodology is demonstrated and a stereocontrol mechanism is proposed. ©...
