Synthesis of cyclopropa[c]indeno[1,2-b]quinolines through a MCR/Staudinger/aza-Wittig sequence

ABSTRACTSpirocyclopropanes were prepared from aromatic aldehydes, 1,3-indandione and acetophenones through a halogenation/SN2-displacement/Michael-initiated ring-closing sequence by a pyridinium-ylide-assisted multicomponent reaction, and their further use was also researched in the construction of cyclopropa[c]indeno[1,2-b]quinolines through subsequent Staudinger/aza-Wittig reactions.