Spirooxindole synthesis via palladium-catalyzed dearomative reductive-Heck reaction

Org Biomol Chem. 2017 Mar 28;15(13):2711-2715. doi: 10.1039/c7ob00146k.

Abstract

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative reductive-Heck reaction of C2-substituted indoles is developed, which provides access to structurally diverse 3,2'-spiropyrrolidine oxindoles. By changing the hydride source to AcONa base, direct C3-arylation products [2,3-b]quinolinones are achieved in good yields. The reaction of C2-substituted benzofuran is also realized, delivering the desired spiro-product.