DBU-Mediated Reaction of 3-Chlorooxindole and 9-Xanthyl Fluorene for Synthesis of 3-Arylidene Oxindole

Abstract

This work reports a new route for the synthesis of 3-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)indolin-2-one derivatives via the reaction of 3-chlorooxindoles and O-ethyl S-(9H-fluoren-9-yl) carbonodithioates mediated by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU). The reactions readily proceeded at room temperature, enable a collection of 3-alkenyl oxindoles to be prepared within a short reaction time (15 minutes). The 3-alkenyl oxindoles can be easily converted to 3-fluorenyl oxindoles by NaBH4 reduction.