CH activation and CH2 double activation of indolines by radical translocation: understanding the chemistry of the indolinyl radical.

CH activation and CH(2) double activation of indolines at C2 may be achieved efficiently through radical translocation. The fate of the C2 indolinyl radical is dictated by the substitution at C3. Fragmentation, cyclisation and tandem cyclisation reactions leading to indole, azaheterocycle and azapropellane formation, respectively, are reported.