Copper-Mediated Construction of Spirocyclic Bis-oxindoles via a Double C–H, Ar–H Coupling Process

A double C–H, Ar–H coupling process for the conversion of bis-anilides into spirocyclic bis-oxindoles, enabling the concomitant formation of two all-carbon quaternary centers at oxindole 3-positions in a diastereoselective manner, is described. The optimum cyclization conditions utilize stoichiometric Cu­(OAc)2·H2O/KOtBu in DMF at 110 °C and have been applied to prepare a range of structurally diverse bis-spirooxindoles in fair to good yields (28–77%); the method has also been extended to prepare bis-oxindoles linked by a functionalized acyclic carbon chain.