MU XIN

Catalytic, selective, and controlled oxidative functionalization of CH bonds using molecular oxygen as an oxidant remains highly desirable and equally challenging in the development of synthetic methodologies. Presented herein is a one-pot oxygenase cascade reaction wherein a copper(I)-catalyzed oxygenase reaction transforms the allylic methyl group in 3-methylidene oxindoles into an aldehyde, which then undergoes an aldol–oxa-Michael addition sequence with β-ketoesters to yield dihydrofuran-bearing oxindoles.

O₂ cascades: The first one-pot oxygenase cascade is presented, wherein a copper-catalyzed oxygenase reaction transforms the allylic CH₃ of 3-methylidene oxindole into an aldehyde, which then undergoes an aldol–oxa-Michael addition reaction with β-ketoesters to give dihydrofuran-bearing oxindoles.