Copper-catalysed approach to spirocyclic oxindoles via a direct C-H, Ar-H functionalisation

A practical and efficient entry to spirocyclic oxindoles from readily accessible anilide precursors, using only catalytic amounts of an inexpensive copper salt together with air as the sole re-oxidant, is described. In addition to providing access to a broad range of spiro-oxindole products, the utility of this method is demonstrated in a formal synthesis of the natural product, horsfiline. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.