A cascade reaction giving nitromethyl-substituted oxindole derivatives was developed. The reaction used NaNO2 as the nitro source and potassium peroxydisulfate as an oxidant. This reaction proceeded via a radical mechanism involving substitution–desulfonlylation–cyclization steps in one pot and afforded good yields under mild conditions without using toxic metal catalysts. The resultant nitromethyl-substituted oxindole derivatives are convenient and valuable structures for different derivative syntheses.
Key words
oxindole - desulfonylation - radical cyclization - potassium peroxydisulfate - sodium nitrite