2-Oxindole and related heterocycles: synthetic methodologies for their natural products and related derivatives

Natural goods, medications, and pharmaceutically active substances all contain substituted oxindoles. Generally, the C-3 stereocenter of the substituents of oxindoles and their absolute arrangement have a substantial impact on the bioactivity of these substances. In this case, the desire for contemporary probe and drug-discovery programs for the synthesis of chiral compounds using desirable scaffolds with high structural diversity further drives research in this field. Also, the new synthetic techniques are generally simple to apply for the synthesis of other similar scaffolds. Herein, we review the distinct approaches for the synthesis of diverse useful oxindole scaffolds. Specifically, the research findings on the naturally existing 2-oxindole core and a variety of synthetic compounds having a 2-oxindole core are discussed. We present an overview of the construction of oxindole-based synthetic and natural products. In addition, the chemical reactivity of 2-oxindole and its related derivatives in the presence of chiral and achiral catalysts are thoroughly discussed. The data compiled herein provides broad information related to the bioactive product design, development, and applications of 2-oxindoles and the reported techniques will be helpful for the investigation of novel reactions in the future.

Copper-Catalyzed Lactamization of (E)-2-(2-Bromophenyl)-3-arylacrylamides for the Synthesis of (E)-3-Arylideneindolin-2-ones

A copper-catalyzed, ligand-free intramolecular C-N coupling of (E)-2-(2-bromophenyl)-3-arylacrylamides has been developed. This protocol provides an efficient and practical synthetic route for the biologically important (E)-3-arylideneindolin-2-ones from o-bromophenylacetic acids and aromatic or conjugated alkenyl aldehydes. Readily available starting materials, mild and noble metal-free conditions, high efficiency, and good tolerability for phenolic hydroxyl groups make this approach attractive and applicable.

Synthesis of 2-Mercapto-(2-Oxoindolin-3-Ylidene)Acetonitriles from 3-(4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-Dithiazol-5-Ylidene)Indolin-2-ones

Alkylidene oxindoles are important functional moieties and building blocks in pharmaceutical and synthetic chemistry. Our interest in biologically active compounds focused our studies on the synthesis of novel oxindoles, bearing on the exocyclic double bond at the C8, CN, and S groups. Extending the potential applications of Appel’s salt, we developed a new synthetic approach by investigating the reactions of C5-substituted 2-oxindoles with 4,5-dichloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium chloride (Appel’s salt) to give original (Z)-3-(4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)indolin-2-one derivatives, and new 2-mercapto-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)acetonitriles via a dithiazole ring-opening reaction. The work described in this article represents further applications of Appel’s salt in the conception of novel heterocyclic rings, in an effort to access original bioactive compounds. Fifteen new compounds were prepared and fully characterized.

Indium triflate catalysed 3-aza-Cope rearrangement of amino acid derived α,β-unsaturated esters to alkylidene oxindoles

The first examples of amino acid derived α,β-unsaturated esters to Z-alkylidene oxindoles via 3-aza-Cope rearrangement using In(OTf)₃ are reported.

Synthesis of Functionalized 6-Hydroxy-2-oxindole Derivatives by Phenoxide Cyclization

An apparent intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling of N-(3-hydroxy)monoanilide of maleic esters comprising base promoted phenoxide cyclization and subsequent base-mediated aerobic oxidation was developed to synthesize a variety of 2-(6-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)acetate derivatives. The isolation of intermediate cyclized products during the large scale reactions and their ready dehydrogenation with 1 equiv of base support this proposed two-step path.

Route to α-Aryl Phosphonoacetates: Useful Synthetic Precursors in the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Olefination

A versatile and general catalytic strategy has been developed for the α-arylation of phosphonoacetates utilizing parallel microscale experimentation. These α-substituted phosphonoacetates are widely useful, notably as substrates in the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons-type olefinations. However, the current routes to these products involve harsh conditions, limiting the variety of functionality. The reported method can be used with a variety of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides, including several heterocyclic examples.

Catalytic thia-Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement: application to the synthesis of oxindoles

A series of 3-arylthio-1,3-disubstituted-oxindoles were prepared in good yields by the reaction of α-diazocarbonyl compounds and sulfenamides. The reaction involves a Rh-catalyzed thia-Sommelet-Hauser-type rearrangement.