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Natural products and their analogues are significant sources of therapeutic lead compounds. However, synthetic strategies for generating large collections of these molecules remain a significant challenge. The most difficult step in their synthesis is the design of a common intermediate that can be easily transformed into natural products belonging to different families. This study demonstrates the evolution of synthetic tactics designed to assemble the functionalized piperidines present in indole alkaloids from a common intermediate. More importantly, we also report a previously unknown Ir- and Er-catalyzed dehydrogenative spirocyclization reaction that enables direct access to spirocyclic oxindole alkaloids. As a practical application, the asymmetric total syntheses of 29 natural alkaloids belonging to different families were accomplished by following a uniform synthetic route. The proposed methodology extends the capability of the iridium-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling reaction to the realm of indole-alkaloid synthesis and provides new opportunities for the efficient preparation of natural product-like molecules.

Corynantheine-type alkaloids are major components of the Mitragyna speciosa , also known as kratom, that exhibit unique pharmacological activity. However, no universal method to prepare these alkaloids has been reported. Disclosed herein is a catalytic, asymmetric platform that enables rapid access to corynantheine alkaloids. The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-corynantheidine pseudoindoxyl is described. The first asymmetric syntheses of (+)-corynoxine and (-)-corynoxine B were also achieved, along with enantioselective syntheses of (-)-corynantheidol and (-)-corynantheidine. Through this work, all series of corynantheine alkaloids including indole, spirooxindole, and pseudoindoxyl can now be accessed in the laboratory, enabling comprehensive biological investigation of kratom alkaloids to be undertaken.

3,3-Disubstituted oxindoles are widely distributed in natural products, drugs, and pharmaceutically active compounds. The absolute configuration and the substituents on the fully substituted C3 stereocenter of the oxindole often significantly influence the biological activity. Therefore, tremendous efforts have made to develop catalytic enantioselective syntheses of this prominent structural motif. Research in this area is further fueled by the ever-increasing demand for modern probe- and drug-discovery programs for synthetic libraries of chiral compounds that are derived from privileged scaffolds with high structural diversity. Notably, the efficient construction of fully substituted C3 stereocenters of oxindole, tetrasubstituted or all-carbon quaternary, spirocyclic or not, also becomes a test ground for new synthetic methodologies. We have been engaged in developing efficient methods for diversity-oriented synthesis of chiral 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles from readily available starting materials. We have systematically developed catalytic enantioselective methods to prepare 3-substituted 3-hydroxyoxindoles, 3-aminooxindoles, and 3-thiooxindoles, quaternary oxindoles, and spirocyclic oxindoles. These protocols can be classified into six approaches: (1) enantioselective addition of nucleophiles to isatins or isatin ketimines; (2) unprotected 3-substituted oxindoles as nucleophiles; (3) functionalization of oxindole-derived tetrasubstituted alkenes; (4) desymmetrization of oxindole-based diynes; (5) spirocyclopropyl oxindoles as donor-acceptor (D-A) cyclopropanes; and (6) elaboration of diazooxindoles. By the use of these methods, chiral oxindoles with rich structural diversity are readily accessed with high to excellent enantioselectivity. Some methods have been used for the enantioselective formal or total synthesis of natural products, bioactive compounds, or their analogues. On the basis of these studies, we developed synthetic methodologies that have potential application. We designed phosphoramide-based bifunctional catalysts for the efficient construction of quaternary oxindoles: a cinchona-alkaloid-derived phosphoramide for the Michael addition of unprotected 3-substituted oxindoles to nitroolefins with broad substrate scope and a chiral 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-derived bifunctional phosphoramide for the activation of fluorinated enol silyl ethers for the addition to isatylidene malononitrile. The phosphoramide-based catalysts achieved better enantiofacial control than the analogous H-bond-donor-derived catalysts in these reactions, suggesting the potential of the former in new chiral catalyst development. We identified chiral Au(I) and Hg(II) catalysts for olefin cyclopropanation of diazooxindoles. We further disclosed the effective activation of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles by using electron-withdrawing N-protecting groups for enantioselective [3 + 3] cycloaddition, offering the promise of constructing a diverse range of spirocyclic oxindoles by the use of such monoactivated D-A cyclopropanes. We developed tandem sequences that allow the facile synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles from simple starting materials in a one-pot operation, including a tandem Morita-Baylis-Hillman/bromination/[3 + 2] annulation sequence, a hydrogenation/ketimine formation/asymmetric 6p electrocyclization sequence, a C-H functionalization/Michael addition or amination sequence, and an aza-Wittig/Strecker sequence. We designed oxindole-based diynes to realize a highly enantioselective Cu-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC), outlining the desymmetrization of prochiral diynes as an effective strategy to exploit asymmetric CuAAC. This Account focuses on the synthetic methodologies developed in our group for the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles and provides an overview of our research on the design, development, and applications of these methods that will provide useful insights for the exploration of new reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly enantioselective preparation of spirooxindoles bearing α,α-disubstituted α-amino-β-keto esters was achieved through [4 + 1] annulation of oxindoles and α-imine-β-oxo-γ,δ-unsaturated esters under mild conditions in good yields (up to 82%) and stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr, 96% ee). The reaction is amenable to gram scale synthesis using catalyst loading as low as 1 mol %. The corresponding chiral α,α-disubstituted α-amino-β-keto esters could be easily transformed into cyclopenta[b]indole derivatives without erosion of enantiopurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new CuI/1,10-phen-catalyzed reaction for the synthesis of 3-ylideneoxindoles from readily available isatins and ethyl isocyanoacetate, in which ethyl isocyanoacetate acts as a latent two-carbon donor like the Wittig reagent, is reported. A tandem procedure including 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/inverse 1,3-dipolar ring opening/olefination allows the preparation of 3-ylideneoxindoles with broad functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a rapid, highly efficient, and one-pot synthesis of C3-α-prenylated oxindoles with simple reagents is described. The process is based on zinc-mediated α-regioselective prenylation of 3-acylidene-oxindole with commercially available prenyl bromide using inexpensive CeCl3 as the catalyst. The new transformation tolerates a wide range of 3-acylidene-oxindoles, providing easy access to a variety of functionalized 3-prenylated oxindoles. The synthetic utility of the approach is verified by formal synthesis of the flustramine family alkaloid (±)-debromoflustramine E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first nickel-catalyzed domino Heck cyclization/Suzuki coupling reaction for the synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles bearing quaternary all-carbon centers is reported. A wide range of electrophiles, such as aryl iodides, bromides, triflates, and chlorides, are all compatible with the reaction conditions. Moreover, cheap aryl esters, which undergo catalytic C--O bond cleavage, could also be employed as electrophiles. The approach shows good yields and broad scope, complementing a more practical and sustainable alternative to the conventional palladium-based analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantioselective dearomative [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 2-nitrobenzofurans with 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles was developed. The reaction employs a chiral bis(oxazoline)/Zn(OTf)2 catalyst, allowing a practical, straightforward access to structurally diverse spirooxindoles containing a 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran motif and three contiguous stereocenters with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The synthetic potentials of the method have been demonstrated by the scale-up experiment and transformations of the products. The preliminary mechanism was investigated with experimental observations, nonlinear effects studies, and MS experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful development of the classical Pinnick oxidation into a new and promising oxidative lactonization reaction is reported. Chiral 3-oxindolepropionic aldehydes, Michael adducts of 3-olefinic oxindoles with aliphatic aldehydes, are directly converted to spirocyclic oxindole-γ-lactones solely by sodium chlorite via a tandem Pinnick oxidation/chlorination/substitution sequence. This reaction uses waste ClO- generated in the initial Pinnick oxidation as an ecofriendly halogenating agent for the subsequent chlorination, and then it utilizes the byproduct OH- formed in the chlorination to facilitate the final internal substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient domino polycyclization combining different classes of pericyclic reactions leads to complex spiroxindoles under mild conditions. This domino process represents a rare example of an in situ formation of cyclopentadienol derivatives from an interrupted iso-Nazarov electrocyclization of 2,4-dienals and their use in [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. According to the reaction conditions, different polycyclic architectures are obtained in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of domino reaction for synthesis of heterocycles fusing the important bioactive cores, such as oxindole, indoline, and isoquinoline, is presented. Upon exposure to the very common palladium catalyst, the conceptually designed N-alkenyl iodobiaryls undergo a sequential carbopalladation/C–H activation to build polycyclic frameworks. These novel unique frameworks may provide structure sources in fragment-based drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly diastereoselective vinylogous nucleophilic 1,6-conjugate addition reaction of para-quinone methides with 3-propenyl-2-silyloxyindoles by a bismuth triflate catalyst has been developed. A number of diphenylmethane type compounds functionalized with oxindole motifs was obtained with excellent yields (up to 99%) and very good diastereoselectivities (up to Z/E > 99:1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rylene imides (RIs) self-assemble into various nanostructures. Often, the synthesis of unsymmetrical RIs (URIs) is required to achieve nanostructures. However, the synthesis of URIs is nontrivial. Thus, a structurally similar alternative is desirable. iso-Indigo (i-indigo) has a π core and lactam rings that are structurally similar to the RIs. Unsymmetrical iso-indigo (i-indigo) can be easily synthesized by condensing oxindole and isatin. We have synthesized a series of unsymmetrical i-indigo molecules. In these molecules, the π-π interaction, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals interactions are in operation. Because of these, the molecules self-assemble into spheres, fibers, and dahlia flower morphologies. If the hydrogen bonding interaction is disrupted, then all of them form fibers. Control experiments indicate that the complete absence of hydrogen bonding is deleterious to self-assembly. We also show that the lower analogs of i-indigo are not sufficient to form self-assembled nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general, transition-metal-free, one-pot, domino Michael-SNAr or AdNE substitution protocol was devised for spiroannulation of oxindoles with ortho-bromoaryl ynones, β-bromoalkenyl ynones, and β-bromoalkenyl enones in a convenient and efficient manner. As an application, a short synthesis of tetracyclic alkaloid spindomycin B was accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An organocatalyzed enantioselective Michael-Michael-Michael-aldol cascade reaction for the construction of cyclopentane fused spirooxindoles was achieved. The domino reaction provided the spirooxindoles with six contiguous stereocenters including a quaternary center in good yields (55-64%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). Enantioselective Michael-Michael-Michael-aldol condensation-aromatization reactions of an isomeric product were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonated oxindoles are accessed by a Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed three-component reaction of N-(arylsulfonyl)acrylamides, DABSO, and aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates. This transformation is triggered by the formation of arylsulfonyl radicals in situ from the reaction of aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates and DABSO. Afterward, the sequential radical addition, radical cyclization, and desulfonylative 1,4-aryl migration take place to provide the final product by the formation of four new bonds in one pot. This procedure shows good functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology to access chiral 3,3'-spiro-phosphonylpyrazoline oxindoles via an asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of substituted methyleneindolinones with α-diazomethylphosphonate in the catalysis of tertiary amine thiourea and 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) has been established. This method exhibits high functional group compatibility, where a wide range of methyleneindolinones with various substituents and heterocyclic rings are accommodated by this reaction. The resulting chiral 3,3'-spiro-phosphonylpyrazoline oxindoles can be further transformed into spiro-phosphonylcyclopropane oxindoles by ring contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologically relevant chiral 3,3-disubstituted oxindole products containing a β-fluoroamine unit are obtained in high yields and with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 99% ee, dr >20:1 for syn) through the organocatalytic direct Mannich reaction of 3-fluoro-oxindoles as fluoroenolate precursors and α-amidosulfones as the bench-stable precursors of sensitive imines by using a chiral oligoethylene glycol and KF as a cation-binding catalyst and base, respectively. This protocol can be easily scaled without compromising the asymmetric induction. Furthermore, this protocol was also successfully extended to generate tetrasubstituted C--Cl and C--Br stereogenic centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3-Substituted 2-oxindoles are important structural motifs found in many biologically active natural products and pharmaceutical lead compounds. Here, we report an enzymatic formation of the 3-substituted 2-oxindoles catalyzed by MarE in the maremycin biosynthetic pathway in Streptomyces sp. B9173. MarE is a homologue of FeII/hemedependent tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenases (TDOs). Typical TDOs usually catalyze the insertion of two oxygen atoms from O2 into an indole ring to generate N-formylkynurenine (NFK)-like products. In contrast, MarE catalyzes the insertion of a single oxygen atom from O2 into an indole ring, to probably generate an epoxyindole intermediate that undergoes an unprecedented 2,3-hydride migration to form 2-oxindole structure. MarE shows substrate robustness to catalyze the conversion of a series of 3-substituted indoles into their corresponding 3- substituted 2-oxindoles. Although containing most key amino acid residues conserved in well-known TDO homologues, MarE falls into a separate new subgroup in the phylogenetic tree. The characterization of MarE and its homologue enriches the functional diversities of TDO superfamily and provides a new strategy for discovering novel natural products containing 3- substituted 2-oxindole pharmacophores by genome mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnesium catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reaction of C3-pyrrolyl-oxindoles with terminal alkynones is presented. The current asymmetric conjugate reaction relies on the development of novel combinational magnesium catalysis involving two chiral ligands. The current protocol proceeds smoothly and gives the corresponding enantioenriched 3,3-disubstituted oxindole skeletons with good enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the conjugate adducts could be transferred to spiro oxindole structures containing an eight-membered ring in high ee values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-step procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of spiro[indolizidine-1,3'-oxindoles], consisting of a stereoselective cyclocondensation reaction between (S)-tryptophanol and a prochiral or racemic δ-oxoester, bromination of the resulting oxazolopiperidone lactam, and a final stereoselective spirocyclization, is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalyst-free water-mediated regio- and stereospecific ring-opening reaction of nonracemic spiroaziridine oxindoles and indoles has been developed with retention of configuration. This method provides direct access to enantiopure 3,3'-mixed bisindoles with excellent yield and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first example of catalytic asymmetric electrophilic cyanation of 3-substituted oxindoles has been achieved using readily accessible 4-acetylphenyl cyanate as the cyano source. Thus, a series of all-carbon quaternary center 3-aryl-3-cyano oxindoles were prepared using a zinc complex of a chiral pincer ligand as the catalyst in high yields (up to 95%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) in the presence of 4 Å MS and 2,6-lutidine in THF at 0 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A "product control via substrate design" strategy has been conceptualized and implemented to harness the potential of aryne and activated alkyne insertions into oxindoles to readily and efficiently furnish pharmacophoric indano- and cyclopentannulated spirooxindole scaffolds in an operationally straightforward, one-pot, transition-metal-free protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isatin N,N'-cyclic azomethine imine 1,3-dipole was devised, and an unusual Michael addition with β-nitrostyrene catalyzed by tributylamine under mild conditions has been developed. The new reaction featured the C3 umpolung of oxindole and an unusual formation of double bond. Notably, this new synthon performed as a donor rather than an acceptor. This protocol provided a promising method for the preparation of various 3-aminooxindoles with good yields in moderate diastereoselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general and practical organocatalytic asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3-amino oxindole-based azomethine ylides and α,β-enones has been developed. This reaction delivered spiro[pyrrolidine-2,3'-oxindole] products in high yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, >20:1 rr, 99% ee). In addition, an array of spiro[dihydropyrrole-2,3'-oxindoles] were readily accessed by oxidative dehydrogenation. Notably, the inversion of the diastereoselectivity of the spiro[pyrrolidine-oxindole] product could be easily achieved through a facile oxidation-reduction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric α-arylation of carbonyl compounds is a widely studied method for C–C bond formation. Recently, the α-arylation of α-fluoro ketones has been reported, including enantioselective α-arylation of α-fluoro ketones. However, the asymmetric α-arylation of α-fluoro carbonyl compounds in the carboxylic acid oxidation state has not been reported. We report the enantioselective α-arylation of α-fluorooxindoles with aryl triflates. The reaction occurs in high yield and with high enantioselectivity when catalyzed by a Pd–Segphos complex. This general class of product serves as an enantioenriched, nonenolizable version of α-aryl oxindoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and highly efficient synthetic approach to pyrroloindolines has been developed. The process is based on tandem radical addition/cyclization with inexpensive iron catalyst. This method tolerates a wide range of N-methyl-N-arylacrylamides as well carbamoyl radicals, providing access to a variety of functionalized 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles, key intermediates for many bioactive pyrroloindolines such as (±)-esermethole, (±)-deoxyeseroline, and (±)-physovenol methyl ether. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oxidative sequence for the conversion of oxindoles to structurally distinct heterocyclic scaffolds and aniline derivatives is disclosed by the combination of a copper-catalyzed C-H peroxidation and subsequent base-mediated fragmentation reaction. In contrast to classic enzymatic (i.e., kynurenine pathway) and biomimetic methods (i.e., Witkop-Winterfeldt oxidation) for oxidative indole cleavage, this protocol allows for the incorporation of external nucleophiles. The new transformation displays broad functional group tolerance and is applicable to tryptophan derivatives, opening potential new avenues for postsynthetic modification of polypeptides, bioconjugation, and unnatural amino acid synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-metal-free synthetic methods have been developed for the preparation of unsymmetrical diaryl and aryl alkyl chalcogenides: sulfones, sulfides, and selenides from the sp3-C-H bond of oxindole, tetralone, arylacetamide, and aryl chalcogenide precursors. Sulfones were obtained from sodium sulfinates using potassium iodide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide in DMSO, and acetic acid. Sulfides and selenides were prepared from diaryl disulfides or diselenides employing potassium tert-butoxide in DMSO. α-Tetralone underwent concomitant chalcogenation and aromatization resulting in 2-chalcogenyl-1-naphthols in one pot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An I2-promoted domino bicyclization approach via multiple sequential C-H functionalization was serendipitously discovered for the synthesis of 1,2-fused oxindoles from methyl ketones and anilines. This approach was optimized, resulting in a concise and atom-economical approach for the one-pot construction of 1,2-fused oxindoles from methyl ketones and anilines rather than using preexisting indolin-3-ones or indoles. Mechanistic studies revealed that the key step involved an oxidative cross-coupling between in situ generated phenylglyoxal and α,α-diaminoketone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile approach to 6-aryl/alkyl substituted 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinolines from mono-N-substituted isoindigo derivatives in the presence of SnCl2·2H2O in acid media is described. Pyrrole and pyridine rings are synchronously constructed in one pot for these tetracyclic molecules. A plausible reduction/hydrolysis/decarboxylation/cyclization/aromatization domino reaction mechanism is proposed. Bis-N-substituted isoindigo only gives the corresponding reduction product, 3,3′-bioxindole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H 2 O 2 -dependent degradation of haloindole catalyzed by the dehaloperoxidase (DHP) from Amphitrite ornate has been reported to employ the peroxygenase mechanism, and the two oxidized products 5-halo-2-oxindole and 5-halo-3-oxindole have a similar amount. According to a previous experimental study, compound I (Cpd I) was suggested to be responsible for triggering the reaction, and the reaction may undergo three possible intermediates; however, the reaction details are still unclear. To clarify the reaction mechanism of DHP, the computational model was constructed on the basis of the high-resolution crystal structure, and a series of the quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations were performed. Based on our calculation results, it is confirmed that the reaction starts from the direct electrophilic attack of Cpd I on the indole ring of the substrate, and the resulted intermediate contains both a carbocation and an oxygen anion, whereas the common hydrogen abstraction by Cpd I was calculated to correspond to a relatively higher barrier. In addition, a net electron transfer from the substrate to the iron center is observed during the attack of Cpd I on the indole ring; therefore, the carbocation/oxygen anion intermediate can easily undergo an intramolecular hydride transfer to form the product 5-halo-2-oxindole or isomerize to the epoxide intermediate which finally generates another product 5-halo-3-oxindole. It is the zwitterionic characteristic of the intermediate that makes the intermolecular hydride transfer quite easy, and it is the high electron affinity of the iron center that promotes the single-electron oxidation of the reaction intermediate. Our calculations well explain the formation of two oxidized products 5-halo-2-oxindole and 5-halo-3-oxindole.

Spiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidine] is a fundamental motif present in various biologically active compounds. Here, we report an intramolecular oxidative coupling reaction of oxindoles with β-dicarbonyls in the presence of a guanidinium hypoiodite catalyst, providing spiro-coupling products in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, a chiral hypoiodite catalyst derived from the chiral guanidinium organocatalyst is effective for the challenging asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction, affording optically active spiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidines].

A palladium-catalyzed ring-opening [3 + 2]-annulation of spirovinylcyclopropanyl oxindoles with seven-membered cyclic N -sulfonylimines has been developed. A wide range of seven-membered benzosultams featuring both a quaternary center and axially chiral biaryl scaffolds have been afforded in an average yield of 87% with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivities. The enantioenriched benzosultams were also accessed successfully in good yields with excellent atropoenantioselectivities enabled by the Pd 2 (dba) 3 /( S , S , S )-SKP ligand. The practical utility of this protocol was further demonstrated by the gram-scale reaction and diversified synthetic transformations of the desired seven-membered benzosultam.

A palladium-catalyzed spirocyclization forming spirooxindoles and spirodihydrobenzofurans has been achieved. Mechanistic studies suggest that the transformation proceeds through sequential carbopalladation, C-H activation, and benzyne insertion. Both classes of spirocycles have been synthesized in good to excellent yields, and the procedure is readily scalable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaffold modification based on Wang's pioneering MDM2-p53 inhibitors led to novel, chemically stable spiro-oxindole compounds bearing a spiro[3H-indole-3,2'-pyrrolidin]-2(1H)-one scaffold that are not prone to epimerization as observed for the initial spiro[3H-indole-3,3'-pyrrolidin]-2(1H)-one scaffold. Further structure-based optimization inspired by natural product architectures led to a complex fused ring system ideally suited to bind to the MDM2 protein and to interrupt its protein-protein interaction (PPI) with TP53. The compounds are highly selective and show in vivo efficacy in a SJSA-1 xenograft model even when given as a single dose as demonstrated for 4-[(3S,3'S,3'aS,5'R,6'aS)-6-chloro-3'-(3-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1'-(cyclopropylmethyl)-2-oxo-1,2,3',3'a,4',5',6',6'a-octahydro-1'H-spiro[indole-3,2'-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole]-5'-yl]benzoic acid (BI-0252). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(S,S)-Diphenylethylenediamine-derived bis(imidazolidine)pyridine (PyBidine)-Ni(OAc)2 complex catalyzed the asymmetric Michael/aldol reaction of methyleneindolinone and thiosalicylaldehyde to produce (2′R,3S,4′R)-thiochromanyl-spirooxindole having three contiguous stereogenic centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a highly robust, general and stereoselective method for the synthesis of 3-(chloromethylene) oxindoles from alkyne-tethered carbamoyl chlorides using PdCl2(PhCN)2 as the catalyst. The transformation involves a stereo- and regioselective chloropalladation of an internal alkyne to generate a nucleophilic vinyl PdII species, which then undergoes an intramolecular cross-coupling with a carbamoyl chloride. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, is insensitive to the presence of moisture and air, and is readily scalable. The products obtained from this reaction are formed with >95:5 Z:E selectivity in nearly all cases and can be used to access biologically relevant oxindole cores. Through combined experimental and computational studies, we provide insight into stereo- and regioselectivity of the chloropalladation step, as well as the mechanism for the C -C bond forming process. Calculations provide support for a mechanism involving oxidative addition into the carbamoyl chloride bond to generate a high valent PdIV species, which then undergoes facile C -C reductive elimination to form the final product. Overall, the transformation constitutes a formal PdII-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne chlorocarbamoylation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unusual benzannulation reaction has been realized by integrating intermolecular adol condensation with subsequent intramolercular base-promoted homolytic aromatic substitution. This novel cascade reaction provides a straightforward approach toward various naphtho-fused oxindoles from 2-halobenzaldehydes and indolin-2-ones in the presence of Cs2CO3 in DMSO. The enolates of indolin-2-ones as new and internal electron donors have been demonstrated to initiate intramolecular radical dehalogenative coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first strategy for bringing about highly enantioselective alkylative enolate kinetic resolutions using a simple phase-transfer protocol via SN2 chemistry has been developed. In the presence of a new squaramide-based quaternized cinchona alkaloid-derived catalyst and aqueous base, benzyl, allyl, and propargyl halides react with racemic substituted oxindoles to generate densely functionalized products with the two contiguous stereocenters, one of which is an all-carbon quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruthenium-catalyzed C-H functionalization was successfully combined with palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation in one pot. The novel dual-metal-catalyzed reaction provides a variety of 3-allyl-3-aryl oxindoles from the corresponding α-diazoamides in up to 99% yield with up to 85% ee. The appropriate ligand choice is important to promote the sequential reaction, avoiding undesired metal interaction or ligand exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of imino esters with methyleneindolinones has been realized by using readily available thiourea-quaternary ammonium salts as phase-transfer catalysts, enabling efficient construction of a range of chiral spiro[pyrrolidin-3,3′-oxindoles] in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile method to construct quaternary 3,3-disubstituted 2-oxindole from 2-substituted indole without a catalyst in mild conditions is developed. A mechanistic study suggests that an iminium-intermediate-triggered 1,2-rearrangement is involved, and a trace amount of water is required for subsequent oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel catalyst-free halogenative cyclization of N-aryl diazoamides with N-halosuccinimides (NXS) is reported for the synthesis of 3-halooxindoles through a carbene-free mechanism. N-Aryl diazoamides reacted with NXS under mild and catalyst-free conditions to afford the corresponding 3-halooxindoles in good yields. This transformation is proposed to proceed through diazonium ion formation followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tunable copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC)-initiated multicomponent reaction strategy for the construction of 3-functionalized indolin-2-ones is reported. Upon controlling the ring opening of four-membered O-heterocyclic intermediates, this unique method enables the divergent derivatization of N-protected isatins to give three-component (3-CR) and four-component (4-CR) adducts, respectively.e [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient organocatalytic Michael/aldol/hemiacetalization cascade reaction for construction of enantioenriched spirocyclic oxindoles fused with tetrahydropyrane has been developed. The desired highly functionalized 5',6'-dihydro-2'H,4'H-spiro[indoline-3,3'-pyran]-2-one derivatives containing multiple stereogenic centers were obtained in moderate to high chemical yields and with high stereoselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel annulation reaction of 3-acylmethylidene oxindoles with Huisgen zwitterions is unveiled that leads to an unprecedented synthetic method for complex pyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinolinones and marine alkaloids ammosamides A-C. This method features simplicity, high efficiency, and broad substrate scope and is accordingly anticipated to significantly facilitate the preparation and bioassay of the relevant pyrroloquinoline alkaloids and their analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly enantioselective organocatalytic [2,3]-rearrangement of oxindole derivatives is presented. The reaction was catalyzed by squaramide, and this provides access to 3-hydroxy 3-substituted oxindoles in high enantiomeric purities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]