Synthesis 2021; 53(23): 4409-4418
DOI: 10.1055/a-1549-1082
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Organophosphane-Catalyzed Construction of Functionalized 2-Ylideneoxindoles via Direct β-Acylation

Wey-Chyng Jeng
,
Po-Chung Chien
,
Sandip Sambhaji Vagh
,
Athukuri Edukondalu
,
Wenwei Lin
The authors thank the Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of China (MOST 107-2628-M-003-001-MY3) for financial support.


Abstract

We report an efficient method for the direct β-acylation of 2-ylideneoxindoles with acyl chlorides that is catalyzed by organophosphanes in the presence of base. A variety of functionalized 2-ylideneoxindoles were prepared in moderate to good yields under mild, metal-free conditions via a tandem phospha-Michael/O-acylation/intramolecular cyclization/rearrangement sequence. Mechanistic investigations revealed that C–O bond cleavage on a possible betaine intermediate is the key step for the installation of the keto-functionality at the β-position of 2-ylideneoxindoles in a highly stereospecific manner. The synthetic utility of this protocol could also be proven by a scale-up reaction and synthetic transformations of the products.

Supporting Information



Publication History

Received: 17 June 2021

Accepted after revision: 13 July 2021

Accepted Manuscript online:
13 July 2021

Article published online:
16 August 2021

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