Isatogenols as Precursors for the Synthesis of Fully Substituted Indolines through Regio- and Stereoselective [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Using Various Olefins

Here, we describe a unique reactivity of isatogen derivatives bearing a hydroxy group at the C3-position (isatogenol) and their synthetic application to highly regio- and stereoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. This method provides facile access to polyfused and highly functionalized heterocycles including consecutive stereocenters. Furthermore, DFT calculations revealed that hydrogen bonding is a key to controlling the regio- and stereoselectivity in the cycloaddition using acrylates.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C7-Alkylation of Isatogens with Malonic Acid Diazoesters

Rh(III)-catalyzed C7-alkylation of isatogens (indolin-3-one N-oxides) with malonic acid diazoesters has been developed. This strategy utilizes oxygen anion on the N-oxide group of isatogens as a directing group and successfully achieves the synthesis of a series of C7-alkylated isatogens with moderate to good yields (48-86% yields). Moreover, the N-oxides of isatogens can not only serve as the simple directing group for C7-H bond cleavage but also be deoxidized for easy removal.

Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of 2-(2-azido-phen-yl)-3-oxo-3H-indole 1-oxide

An attempt to explore the reactivity of the nitro group in the presence of gold catalysis in comparison to the azide group yielded intriguing results. Surprisingly, only the nitro group exhibited reactivity, ultimately giving rise to the formation of the title isatogen, C14H8N4O2. In the crystal structure, weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking inter-actions link the mol-ecules. The structure exhibits disorder of the mol-ecule.

Construction of C2-Quaternary-indol-3-ones via RhIII-Catalyzed [3+2] Spirocyclization from Indole Ketones and Nitroolefins

Novel complex C2-quaternary-indol-3-one units bearing versatile nitro groups have been successfully developed from pseudo-indolones and α,β-unsaturated nitroolefins through rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation/[3 + 2] spirocyclization. Notably, four diastereomers could be selectively obtained in the reaction by condition control.

Metal-free synthesis of C2-quaternary indolinones by (NH4)2S2O8 mediated oxidative dearomatization of indoles

An efficient metal-free, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ mediated oxidative dearomatization of indoles for the construction of C2-quaternary indolinones was disclosed. A series of C2-quaternary indolinones derivatives with good functional group tolerance were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. This methodology provides an alternative approach for the direct generation of all-carbon quaternary centers at the C2 position of indoles. This catalytic approach represents a step-economic and convenient strategy for the oxidative dearomatization of indoles.

An efficient metal-free, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ mediated oxidative dearomatization of indoles for construction of C2-quaternary indolinones was disclosed which provides an approach for generation of all-carbon quaternary centers at the C2 position of indoles.

Dieckmann Condensation of Ugi N-Acylamino Amide Product: Facile Access to Functionalized 2,2-Disubstituted Indolin-3-ones

Structurally unique 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones with a quaternary carbon center have been constructed through a novel C-C bond formation at the C3 position of Ugi N-acylamino amide adducts employing an organic base-mediated Dieckmann condensation. This facile, flexible protocol can be fine-tuned to construct drug-like pyrazino[1,2-a]indole fragments with the same quaternary carbon center only through the variation of the acid part in Ugi input. This novel and expeditious methodology has a broad scope and can rapidly generate the drug-like indolin-3-one core.

Regioselective Cross-Coupling of Isatogens with Boronic Acids to Construct 2,2-Disubstituted Indolin-3-one Derivatives

Herein we present a transition-metal-free cross-coupling reaction of isatogens with boronic acids through a 1,4-metalate shift of a boron "ate" complex. This coupling reaction provides a feasible method to deliver valuable 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-one derivatives with excellent regioselectivity, which exhibit operational simplicity, good functional group tolerance, and a broad substrate scope.

Total synthesis of the pseudoindoxyl class of natural products

The pseudoindoxyl sub-structural motif, amongst the large set of the indole class of alkaloids, represents a unique subset of the oxygenated indole class of the alkaloid family. A majority of this class of natural products contains complex bridged/polycyclic scaffolds with interesting biological profiles. They are thus attractive synthetic targets. Starting from 1963, twenty-eight natural products having the pseudoindoxyl scaffold have been isolated, among which the synthesis of 13 natural products has been accomplished. In this review, we highlight the completed as well as the formal total synthesis of the natural products with a spiro-pseudoindoxyl ring, with a focus on their development. The challenges and the future perspective based on the recent developments in the field will also be discussed. We strongly believe that this review will not only update but also attract the attention of researchers in dealing with the synthesis of pseudoindoxyl compounds.

Counterion Control of t-BuO-Mediated Single Electron Transfer to Nitrostilbenes to Construct N-Hydroxyindoles or Oxindoles

tert-Butoxide unlocks new reactivity patterns embedded in nitroarenes. Exposure of nitrostilbenes to sodium tert-butoxide was found to produce N-hydroxyindoles at room temperature without an additive. Changing the counterion to potassium changed the reaction outcome to yield solely oxindoles through an unprecedented dioxygen-transfer reaction followed by a 1,2-phenyl migration. Mechanistic experiments established that these reactions proceed via radical intermediates and suggest that counterion coordination controls whether an oxindole or N-hydroxyindole product is formed.

Palladium-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of Pyrroloindolines from 2-Alkynyl Arylazides and Thioacetamides

A novel and efficient synthetic method for the preparation of various pyrroloindolines from 2-alkynyl arylazides and thioacetamides was developed. The reaction was carried out in a one-pot process under mild reaction conditions to afford the products in moderate to good yields, which has the potential to be used in organic synthesis.

Catalytic asymmetric formal [3+2] cycloaddition of isatogens with azlactones to construct indolin-3-one derivatives

A number of enantioenriched indolin-3-one derivatives were readily obtained by chiral guanidine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of isatogens with azlactones.

One-pot synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles via acyloin rearrangements of 2-hydroxy-indolin-3-ones generated in situ from 2-alkynyl arylazides

A novel one-pot method to prepare 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles via acyloin rearrangements of 2-hydroxy-indolin-3-ones generated in situ from 2-alkynyl arylazides has been described.

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot cycloaddition reactions of thioureas with 3H-indol-3-ones generated in situ from 2-alkynyl arylazides: rapid and efficient access to imidazoloindolines

An efficient palladium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of imidazoloindolines from 2-alkynyl arylazides under mild reaction conditions has been described.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Mannich Reaction: Direct Access to Chiral β-Amino Esters

An asymmetric Mannich reaction has been developed to generate chiral β-amino esters in good yields with excellent enantiomeric excesses (ee, up to 99%) using a chiral bifunctional thiourea catalyst derived from (R,R)-cyclohexyldiamine. This is the first report on the addition of 3-indolinone-2-carboxylates to N-Boc-benzaldimines generated in situ from α-amidosulfones, which proceeds under mild conditions.

Synthesis of C2-tetrasubstituted indolin-3-ones via Cu-catalyzed oxidative dimerization of 2-aryl indoles and cross-addition with indoles

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones under mild conditions has been developed. This reaction involves the copper-catalyzed in situ oxidative de-aromatization of 2-arylindoles to indol-3-one, followed by self-dimerization as well as cross-addition with indoles under mild conditions. The result generates a wide variety of C2-tetrasubstituted indolin-3-ones with good to high yields (62–82%).

A general protocol for the synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones has been developed through self-dimerization of 2-aryl indoles and cross-addition with indoles under mild Cu-catalyzed oxidative conditions with good to high yields.

Direct oxidative dearomatization of indoles: access to structurally diverse 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones

Described is an efficient oxidative dearomatization of indoles with TEMPO oxoammonium salt and a broad range of nucleophiles.

Recent advances in the synthesis of C2-spiropseudoindoxyls

This review summarizes the recent development of novel approaches to construct structurally unique oxindoles featuring a spirocycle at the C2 position.

Synthesis of tetracyclic indolin-3-ones through Pd-catalyzed intramolecular deacetylative dearomatization of 3-acetoxy-indoles

An efficient palladium-catalyzed intramolecular deacetylative dearomatization reaction of 3-acetoxyindoles has been developed. A range of tetracyclic indolin-3-ones bearing C2-quaternary stereocenters are achieved in good yields, showing a wide substrate scope for this reaction. A preliminary enantioselective reaction is established to furnish the product in 63% ee by using (R,R,R)-phosphoramide-PE as a chiral ligand.

An efficient palladium-catalyzed intramolecular deacetylative dearomatization reaction of 3-acetoxyindoles is disclosed, affording tetracyclic indolin-3-ones bearing C2-quaternary stereocenters in good yields.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Cascade Aerobic Oxidation and Semipinacol Rearrangement Reaction: A Visible Light-Induced Approach to Access Chiral 2,2-Disubstituted Indolin-3-ones

An enantioselective cascade aerobic oxidation and semipinacol rearrangement reaction of 2-aryl-3-alkyl-substituted indoles via visible-light-driven cooperative organophotoredox and H-bonding catalysis is reported. The current method provides an expedient and sustainable approach to furnish a variety of valuable chiral 2-aryl-2-alkyl-substituted indolin-3-ones in 64-90 % yield with 58-94 % ee. Preliminary control experiments present important insights into the stereochemistry.

Oxidative Asymmetric Aza-Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Indoles with 3-Indolinone-2-carboxylates Catalyzed by a BINOL Phosphoric Acid and Promoted by DDQ

An asymmetric aza-Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction between indoles and indolenines that were derived in situ from 3-indolinone-2-carboxylates has been developed by using 3,3'-bis(triphenylsilyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate as a catalyst. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions and provided chiral indol-3-yl-3-indolinone-2-carboxylate derivatives in good yields with excellent ee values (up to 98.6 %). Similarly, the Mannich-type addition of indoline-3-ones to indolenines provided heterodimers with vicinal chiral quaternary centers. This method was successfully applied to the construction of the core structure of trigonoliimine C.

A multifunctionalized strategy of indoles to C2-quaternary indolin-3-ones via a TEMPO/Pd-catalyzed cascade process

A method for combinative oxidative homo dimerization and cyanomethylation of free indole derivatives catalysed by TEMPO and Pd(OAc)₂ was demonstrated for the first time. This new methodology is both atom and step efficient and is applicable to a broad scope of substrates, allowing the synthesis of a range of synthetically valuable 2-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-oxoindolin-2-yl)acetonitriles in moderate to excellent yields.

CoCl2-promoted TEMPO oxidative homocoupling of indoles: access to tryptanthrin derivatives

The first example of one-step synthesis of tryptanthrin derivatives using indoles as the only substratesviadirect C–H transformation.

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopropane-fused spiro-pseudoindoxyl derivatives through [2 + 1] annulation of 2-ylideneoxindoles and sulfonium bromides

We developed an efficient method for diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopropane-fused spiropseudoindoxyl derivatives through [2 + 1] annulation.

Expedient synthesis of densely substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles

The strategy was further applied for the synthesis of optically active pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles in >97% de using the chiral auxiliary based approach.

Efficient synthesis of some new antiproliferative N-fused indoles and isoquinolines via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction in an ionic liquid

Triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) as a new, recyclable and environmentally friendly reaction medium for the intramolecular[3+2] cycloaddition reaction.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative trimerization of indoles by using TEMPO to construct quaternary carbon centers: the synthesis of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2,3′-biindolin-3-ones

A simple, convenient, and efficient synthesis of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2,3′-biindolin-3-one derivatives has been developed by the oxidative trimeric reaction of indoles using the TEMPO/CuCl2 catalyst system under ambient air. This methodology provides an alternative approach for the direct generation of all-carbon quaternary centers at the C-2 position of indoles.

Rhodium-catalyzed three-component reaction of 3-diazooxindoles with indoles and isatin-derived ketimines: a facile and versatile approach to functionalized 3,3′,3′′-trisindoles

A variety of functionalized 3,3′,3′′-trisindoles could be produced in high yields with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivities via Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed three-component reaction of 3-diazooxindoles with indoles and isatin-derived N-Boc ketimines.