Intramolecular iron-mediated diene/olefin cyclocoupling: formation of carbon spirocycles.

[reaction: see text] A short and convenient diastereoselective synthesis of all-carbon spirocylic molecules was developed. A straightforward protocol that involves rearrangement of the diene-Fe(CO)(3) complex followed by cyclization delivers the desired product. The reaction substrates were easily prepared by reaction of an appropriate nucleophile and a cyclohexadienyl-Fe(CO)(3) cation.