An unprecedented protocol for the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-3-phenacyloxindole derivatives with indolin-2-ones and α-substituted ketones.

An unprecedented reaction between indolin-2-ones and α-substituted ketones has been developed. Using this protocol, a wide range of biologically important 3-hydroxy-3-phenacyloxindole derivatives could be obtained in good yield (up to 93%) under mild reaction conditions. A possible mechanism of this reaction was tentatively proposed based on some control experiments and MS spectrometry analysis.