Iodine-catalyzed efficient synthesis of azaarene substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindole derivatives through sp3 C–H functionalization

Iodine-catalyzed benzylic sp3 C–H bond functionalization of lutidines or picolines to isatins is described. This synthetic method provides a rapid entry towards biologically interesting 3-azaarene substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindole derivatives.