Graphical Transition-metal-free reaction of oxindoles with primary or secondary alcohols in the presence of LiO t Bu affords α-C-alkylated oxindoles. Transition-metal-free α-C-alkylation of oxindoles with alcohols was performed. The reaction requires the presence of LiO t Bu and proceeds under thermal conditions. The method exhibits a wide scope of substrates. Both primary and secondary aliphatic and aromatic alcohols can be employed as the alkylating reagents. Oxindole and various 1-alkyl- or 1-aryl-substituted oxindoles can be alkylated. The mechanistic studies show that the reaction may involve both free radical and aldol condensation/MPV processes.
Developed herein is a diversity-oriented one-pot multicomponent synthesis of polycyclic 3,3′- pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles 3 via a multicomponent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition event of 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-isatylidenyl-isoxazoles 2 with azomethine ylides (thermally generated in situ from isatins and proline or thioproline). Products bearing four consecutive stereocenters consist of two oxindole moieties and a polycyclic pyrrolidinyl core, including vicinal spiroquaternary stereocenters fused in one ring structure were smoothly obtained in high yields (up to 85% yield) with good diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1). Valuable features of this method were application of 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-isatylidenyl-isoxazoles as 1,3-dipolarophiles and the design of new hybrid architectures for biological screenings through the adequate fusion of these sub-units of isoxazole and 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindole, generating drug-like molecules.
The Rose Bengal sensitized intermolecular [2 + 2]-cycloaddition of 3-ylideneoxindoles for the synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles was developed successfully under visible light irradiation conditions. The cycloaddition products were obtained in good yields (up to 93%) with excellent diastereoselectivity and regioselectivity by using a low loading of Rose Bengal (0.125 mol%) as a triplet sensitizer. This work demonstrates the potential benefits of Rose Bengal in visible light catalysis.