Pd-catalyzed synthesis of 3-(diarylmethylene)-2-oxindoles and 3-(arylmethylene)-2-oxindoles

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of 3-(diarylmethylene)-2-oxindoles and 3-(arylmethylene)-2-oxindoles via carbopalladation is described. In this approach, an Ugi-4-component reaction (4-CR) adduct was used as the starting material. A one-pot sequence involving intermolecular carbopalladation C–H activation/C–C bond formation efficiently afforded the oxindole derivatives.