Synthesis of 3,3-Disubstituted Oxindoles through Cascade Alkylarylation of N-Arylacrylamides with Carboxylic Acids Enabled by Iron Photocatalysis.

Herein, we developed a cascade alkylarylation reaction of N-arylacrylamides with carboxylic acids to construct 3,3-disubstituted oxindole derivatives. The transformation employs inexpensive iron photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. A broad scope of carboxylic acids and N-arylacrylamides could be well tolerated. Additionally, several synthesized oxindole compounds showed the suppression of nitric oxide generation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.