Iron‐Catalyzed Direct Oxidative Alkylation and Hydroxylation of Indolin‐2‐ones with Alkyl‐Substituted N‐Heteroarenes.

Presented herein is the first direct alkylation and hydroxylation reaction between two different C(sp3)−H bonds, indolin‐2‐ones and alkyl‐substituted N‐heteroarenes, through an oxidative cross‐coupling reaction. The reaction is catalyzed by a simple iron salt under mild ligand‐free and base‐free conditions. The reaction is environmentally benign, employs air (molecular oxygen) as the terminal oxidant and oxygen source for the synthesis of O‐containing compounds, and produces only water as the byproduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]