Copper-catalyzed intramolecular C-H oxidation/acylation of formyl-N-arylformamides leading to indoline-2,3-diones

A new, efficient Cu-catalyzed intramolecular C-H oxidation/acylation method is developed for the synthesis of substituted indoline-2,3-diones (isatins). The reaction represents the first example of transition-metal-catalyzed transformation for the preparation of indoline-2,3-diones.