Ru(II)-Catalyzed\nSkeletal Editing of Oxindole with\nInternal Alkyne To Synthesize C7-Alkylated Indole Derivatives

A Ru(II)-catalyzed skeletal editing\nof oxindole scaffolds\nwas established\nto afford C7-alkyl acetate indole derivatives using internal alkyne\nand alkyl alcohol. The developed method is simple, efficient, and\nstraightforward. The reaction was extended to substrates having wide\nchemoselective profiles. When unsymmetrical alkynes were used, promising\nregioselectivity was realized. A preliminary mechanistic study revealed\nthat the reaction pathway proceeded by Ru(II)/Ag(I)-catalyzed amide\ncleavage and subsequent oxidative annulation.