Palladium-catalyzed domino N-arylation/carbopalladation/C-H functionalization: three-component synthesis of 3-(diarylmethylene)oxindoles

A palladium-catalyzed three-component synthesis of 3-(diarylmethylene)indolin-2-ones has been developed. A sequence of intermolecular N-arylation/intermolecular carbopalladation/C-H activation/C-C bond formation was realized in a one-pot fashion allowing the construction of one C-N bond and two C-C bonds by way of three distinct catalytic cycles. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.