Introduction

Multicomponent reactions are extensively used as an efficient tool to construct complex molecular motifs of important pharmaceutics, plant protection compounds, functional materials, and building blocks of a variety of fine chemicals. Such methodology usually satisfies rigid requirements of green chemistry and is characterized by atom-economy, synthetic convergency, simple purification protocols, and decreased usage of expensive solvents and reagents1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. In recent years, the multicomponent reaction strategy has been applied for the synthesis of spirooxindoles and other privileged isatine derivatives13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20.

Many pharmaceutically important compounds possess a structural motif of merged indole and indenone cores21,22,23,24,25,26. The indenopyridine motif is found in many alkaloids and medicines, which exhibit anti-breast cancer27, cytotoxic28,29,30, calcium modulatory31, and other types of biological activities. At the same time, some such heterocycles are pH-indicators32, while others are used as building blocks in the synthesis of DNA inter-chelating drugs33 (Fig. 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Examples of bioactive indenopyridines.

A literature survey indicates a significantly small number of known methods for the synthesis of spiroindole core-based compounds. Several approaches to the synthesis of indenone-fused heterocycles from isatins, aromatic amines and 1,3-indanedione have been performed under various conditions, e.g. catalysis by p-toluenesulfonic acid34,35, sulfonated polyethylene glycol (PEG-OSO3H), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium dihydrogen phosphate ionic liquid36, oxalic acid dehydrate, a proline-based low transition temperature mixture37, and a zinc terephthalate metal–organic framework38. Despite some advantages, most of these methods have significant drawbacks, including the application of toxic, expensive solvents and catalysts, as well as complicated purification procedures and waste management protocols. Instead, heterogeneous recoverable catalysts used in the chemical industry and research labs make these processes much more environmentally friendly39,40,41,42,43.

In this study, we have focused on a heterogeneous acidic catalyst, which is easily prepared and has excellent activity and chemical stability. It can also be separated from the product after the reaction and be reused. Such parameters provide additional cost efficiency and environmental safety to the developing procedures44,45,46.

MCM-41 is a solid mesoporous nano-ordered silica with a large surface area and a regular structure. The diameter of the MCM-41 pores is distributed between 1.5 and 10 nm. It bears merely weak hydrogen bonding Si–OH sites and therefore at most only slightly acidic47,48. Its acidity could be improved, however, by substituting the Si atoms on its surface with Al49, B50, and Zn51, and or by functionalizing the MCM-41 surface with an alkyl sulfonic acid anchoring group52,53, succinamic acid54, or –SO3H55,56,57. Due to a large number of silanol groups, anchoring of inorganic –SO3H to the MCM-41 surface is very practical58. Such a readily accessible compound (MCM-41-SO3H) is non-toxic, recyclable, and reusable. Hence, MCM-41-SO3H is extensively applied in many chemical processes.

As an extension of our continuous studies on the application of heterogeneous catalytic systems to the synthesis of different classes of pharmaceutically important compounds and to the development of green multicomponent reactions (MCRs)57,59,60,61,62,63,64, herein we report a straightforward approach leading to an effective, one-pot pseudo four-components synthesis of spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones. The reaction between 1,3-indandione (1), aromatic amines (2a-g), and isatins (3a-h) in DMF is catalyzed by MCM-41-SO3H affording spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones with good to excellent yields (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1
scheme 1

Synthesis of spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-triones.

Results and discussion

Characterization of the MCM-41-SO3H

The MCM-41-SO3H was prepared according to our previous reports57,59,60 and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET). The FTIR spectrum of the catalyst has been shown in Fig. 2. The bands at 1325 and 1288 cm−1 correspond to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of the SO3H group. A wide band in the area of 3400–3200 cm−1 is related to the O–H stretching vibration of the hydroxyl groups. Moreover, stretching vibrations of Si–O–Si are indicated by sharp bands at 1170 and 850 cm−165,66.

Figure 2
figure 2

FT-IR spectra of nano-ordered MCM-41 (a), and MCM-41-SO3H (b).

The SEM images of the fresh and recovered MCM-41-SO3H have been shown in Fig. 3 and confirm the nanoscale size of the synthesized particles. The size of most particles was in the range of 50–90 nm. As can be seen, the particles are aggregated, due to the strong hydrogen bonding between the acidic moieties. The EDX analysis of the fresh catalyst proved the presence of O, Si, and S atoms in the MCM-41-SO3H structure with a uniform distribution of the sulfonic acid groups (Fig. 4).

Figure 3
figure 3

The SEM images of the MCM-41-SO3H: the fresh catalyst (left), and the recovered one (right).

Figure 4
figure 4

The EDX analysis of the fresh MCM-41-SO3H.

According to the obtained results from the N2 adsorption–desorption diagram (Fig. 5), the BET and the Langmuir surface area of the MCM-41-SO3H were 223 and 303 m2 g−1, respectively. The BET adsorption average pore width (4 V/A) was measured to be 7.2 nm. The catalyst surface area and porosity properties are in good agreement with a typical mesoporous material.

Figure 5
figure 5

The N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms of the MCM-41-SO3H.

Synthesis of spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-triones: an optimization of the reaction conditions

As it was mentioned above, our study aimed to discover an environmentally benign protocol for the synthesis of diversified spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-triones, which would satisfy the requirements of green chemistry67,68. Desired products were obtained in one-pot multicomponent reactions between 1,3-indanedione (1), anilines (2), and isatins (3). To find optimal conditions, several variables affecting the reaction yield were assessed.

Assessment of the effect of the catalyst used

The catalytic efficiency of various members of the MCM-41 family (Al-MCM-41, Fe-MCM-41, MCM-41-NH2, and MCM-41-SO3H), as well as several other solid acid catalysts such as cellulose-SO3H, pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxyapatite were compared. The results presented in Table 1 indicate that a higher yield of the benchmark reaction between 1, 2a, and 3a, which furnished 5-(phenyl)-5H-spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-trione (4a) was observed, when MCM-41-SO3H was used. The effectiveness of this catalyst could be rationalized taking the high Brönsted acidity of the catalyst used and its appropriate pore size into consideration. The loading of MCM-41-SO3H was also optimized. The yields of 64% and 89% 4a were obtained when 5 and 10 mg of MCM-41-SO3H catalyst were used in a 1 mmol scale of the reaction at 100 °C for 2 h (Table 1, entries 11 and 12); whereas a 94% yield was achieved after the first 20 min of the reaction in the presence of 20 mg of the catalyst (Table 1, entry 6).

Table 1 The evaluation of activity of different catalysts in the model reaction.

Assessment of the effect of the solvent and temperature

The effect of various polar and non-polar, protic and aprotic solvents (EtOAc, n-hexane, EtOH, CH3CN, DMF, and DMSO) on the yield of the model reaction was also evaluated (Table 2, entries 1 and 4–8).

Table 2 The evaluation of different solvents and reaction temperatures in the model reaction.

The polar aprotic solvent DMF was found to be a solvent of choice in this reaction (Table 2, entry 1). The solvent-free reaction ran in identical conditions -but without any solvent- with a poor yield, event after a long reaction time (Table 2, entry 9). On the other hand, the evaluation of the temperature influence on the yield of 4a indicated that higher temperature resulted in an improved yield in a shorter reaction time (Table 2, entries 1–3).

In comparison with other catalysts used in the similar reaction reported previously (Table 3), the heterogeneous MCM-41-SO3H was beneficial, offering higher sustainability and better efficiency in the synthesis of 4a. In addition, the atom economy of the protocol proposed herein and the waste exclusion proved its greenness as well.

Table 3 The efficiency of MCM-41-SO3H as compared to other reported catalysts in the model reaction.

Assessment of the substrate scope

In general, high to excellent yields of spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-triones 4a-y with a broad range of substituents were achieved in a short reaction time (Table 4).

Table 4 Synthesis of spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-triones.

In comparison with the EWG-substituted substrates (Table 4, entries 3, 15–18), higher yields and shorter reaction times were observed for EDG-substituted isatins and aromatic amines (Table 4, entries 2, 5, 8, 12, 16).

The study on catalyst stability and reusability

The possibility of recovering and reusing the catalyst was assessed in four consecutive runs for the benchmark reaction leading to 4a. After each run, the catalyst was filtered off and washed with n-hexane and acetone. Next, it was dried at 60 °C for 0.5 h. The recycled catalyst was then subjected to the next run of the model reaction. A significant maintaining of the catalytic activity of MCM-41-SO3H in each run of the reaction was observed (Fig. 6).

Figure 6
figure 6

Reusability of the MCM-41-SO3H catalyst in four consecutive runs.

The FT-IR spectra of the fresh and the recovered MCM-41-SO3H catalyst after the fourth run indicated that its structure remained unchanged (Fig. 7).

Figure 7
figure 7

The FT-IR spectra of the fresh MCM-41-SO3H (a), and the recovered one (b).

Possible mechanism

A plausible mechanism of the reaction leading to spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones is outlined in Scheme 2.

Scheme 2
scheme 2

Proposed catalytic role of the MCM-41-SO3H in the multicomponent condensation leading to the spirodiindenopyridine indoline 4a.

According to the proposed mechanism, acidic SO3H groups located on the surface of MCM-41-SO3H activate the carbonyl group of isatin (3a) to facilitate initial nucleophilic addition of the enolic form of 1,3-indanedione (1) affording the intermediate I. The addition of 2a to the intermediate I, followed by a cyclization reaction, furnishes the product 4a.

Study of the spectral properties of the obtained products 4a4y.

The UV–Vis spectra of 4a–4y were obtained in methanol and reported in Table 5. They showed a maximum absorption wavelength (λmax) in the range of 422–435 nm and a molar extinction coefficient (ɛ) of (1.08–2.99) × 105 L mol−1 cm−1.

Table 5 Spectral properties of the obtained products 4a4y.

The Spiro[diindenopyridine indoline]triones with a hydrogen atom at indoline nitrogen may undergo reversible deprotonation and can be used as pH chemo-sensors. The product 4a was examined as a pH indicator and showed a visible color change at pH ca. 11, from red (in the acidic media) to deep blue (in the basic conditions) (Fig. 8). However, the solution of N-substituted isatins (e.g. 4w) showed no remarkable color change in an alkali solution.

Figure 8
figure 8

Spectral changes of the 5-(phenyl)-5H-spiro[diindeno[1,2-b:2′,1′-e]pyridine-11,3′-indoline]-2′,10,12-trione (4a) (Metanol, 100 ppm) at different pH values.

The UV–Vis absorption of the compound 4a was measured in the pH range from 3 to 12.5. As shown in Fig. 8, beginning from ca. pH 9, a second absorption peak around 530 nm appears. The spectral data is given in Table 6. Whereas the N–H isatins solution displayed similar behavior, N-substituted isatins showed no color change in a wide range of pH. It seems that the color change in dye 4a is due to the deprotonation of the NH group in the indoline unit (Scheme 3).

Table 6 Influence of pH on the UV–Vis absorption of the dye 4a.
Scheme 3
scheme 3

The pH effect on the Π-system of spirodiindenopyridine indolines derivatives.

Conclusions

To summarize, we have herein reported a straightforward atom-economical method of synthesis of spiro[diindenopyridine indoline]triones mediated by a safe heterogeneous recyclable catalyst MCM-41-SO3H, which could be used for at least 4 runs without any significant loss of its activity. Among other advantages of the current protocol, we could emphasize excellent yields, short reaction times, high atom economy as well as simple isolation and purification procedures for both the catalyst and products. The presented approach leading to spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones can be of interest to medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. Furthermore, some products exhibit a pH indicator activity proven by a visible color change in the basic pH ranges (Supplementary Information S1).