Oxindole synthesis by palladium-catalysed aromatic C-H alkenylation

A strategy involving palladium-catalysed aromatic C-H functionalisation/ intramolecular alkenylation provides a convenient and direct synthesis of 3-alkylideneoxindoles. In the presence of 5 mol% of PdCl2MeCN2 and AgOCOCF3, a wide variety of N-cinnamoylanilines gave 3-alkylideneoxindoles in moderate to good yield.