Free-radical cascade alkylarylation of alkenes with simple alkanes: highly efficient access to oxindoles via selective (sp3)C-H and (sp2)C-H bond functionalization.

A copper-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with simple alkanes was achieved, which not only provided an efficient method to prepare various alkyl-substituted oxindoles, but also represented a novel strategy for selective sp(3) C-H functionalization/C-C bond formation via a free-radical cascade process. Additionally, selective activation of unactivated (sp(3))C-H and (sp(2))C-H bonds by one single step is achieved in this system, which would also provide a novel strategy for raising efficiency in C-H bond functionalization.