An efficient one-pot synthesis of novel 4-aryl-1-methyloxindoles

An unprecedented synthetic approach to novel 4-aryl-1-methyloxindoles is described. The method involves the intramolecular palladium-catalyzed amidation of N-methyl-2,6-dibromophenylacetamide followed by an in situ Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with a (hetero)arylboronic acid in a one-pot reaction.