Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative 1,2-Carboacylation of Activated Alkenes with Alcohols: A Tandem Route to 3-(2-Oxoethyl)indolin-2-ones

Oxindoles are important heterocyclic compounds that are found in a wide range of pharmaceutical agents and natural products. A new oxidative tandem route to the assembly of 3-(2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-ones from N-arylacrylamides and alcohols has been established by using inexpensive and environmentally benign iron catalysts and peroxides. In the presence of Fe(OAc)(2) and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, a variety of arylacrylamides underwent the oxidative 1,2-carboacylation reaction with alcohols to give the corresponding 3-(2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-ones in moderate to good yields.