Engaging Isatins in Multicomponent Reactions (MCRs) - Easy Access to Structural Diversity

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are a valuable tool in diversity-oriented synthesis. Its application to privileged structures is gaining relevance in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry. Isatin, due to its unique reactivity, can undergo different MCRs, affording multiple interesting scaffolds, namely oxindole-derivatives (including spirooxindoles, bis-oxindoles and 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles) and even, under certain conditions, ring-opening reactions occur that leads to other heterocyclic compounds. Over the past few years, new methodologies have been described for the application of this important and easily available starting material in MCRs. In this review, we explore these novelties, displaying them according to the structure of the final products obtained.

Automated summary

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are a valuable tool in diversity-oriented synthesis, gaining relevance in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry. Isatin, with its unique reactivity, can undergo different MCRs to afford various interesting scaffolds, including oxindole-derivatives and heterocyclic compounds resulting from ring-opening reactions. New methodologies have been developed for the application of this easily available starting material in MCRs in recent years.