Stereoselective synthesis of diazaspiro[5.5]undecane derivatives via base promoted [5+1] double Michael addition of N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid to diaryliedene acetones

The nitrogen containing spiro-heterocycle is one of the privileged synthetic motif that constitutes various naturally occurring molecules and displays a broad range of pharmaceutical and biological activities. A new methodology was developed for the synthesis of 2,4-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane-1,3,5,9-tetraones spiro-heterocyclic derivatives via cascade cyclization of [5+1] double Michael addition reaction of N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid with the derivatives of diaryldivinylketones in the presence of diethylamine at ambient temperature. The developed protocol is highly capable of furnishing diazaspiro[5.5]undecane derivatives 3a–m in excellent yields (up to 98%), from easily accessible symmetric and non-symmetric divinylketones 2a–m, containing aryl and heteroaryl substituents. The diazaspiro-heterocyclic structure was mainly elucidated by NMR and X-ray crystallographic techniques. The single-crystal X-ray studies revealed that, the cyclohexanone unit of spirocycles often prefers a chair conformation rather than twisted conformation. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding and CArH⋯π, π–π stacking interactions driving forces are mainly responsible for the crystal packing