Oxindole synthesis by palladium-catalysed aromatic C–H alkenylation

Abstract

A strategy involving palladium-catalysed aromatic C-H functionalisation/intramolecular alkenylation provides a convenient and direct synthesis of 3-alkylideneoxindoles. In the presence of 5 mol% of PdCl(2)MeCN(2) and AgOCOCF(3), a wide variety of N-cinnamoylanilines gave 3-alkylideneoxindoles in moderate to good yield.