Substituted indenones reacted smoothly with a variety of in situ generated
nitrones in the presence of lanthanide triflates to give exclusive exo 1,3-
dipolar cycloaddition products in high yield. Judicious choice of the nitro
ne substituents allowed for further modification of the indenoisoxazolidine
core to the corresponding indenoisoxazoline and indenoisoxazole analogs in
high yield. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.