An Efficient Approach for 3,3-Disubstituted Oxindoles Synthesis: Aryl Iodine Catalyzed Intramolecular C–N Bond Oxidative Cross-Coupling

Herein, we report the first intramolecular C–N bond formation of phenylpropanamide derivatives via organocatalytic oxidative reactions, affording 3,3-disubstituted oxindole derivatives with up to 99% yield. The high efficiency of this reaction is exemplified by the transition metal-free mild conditions and the ability to perform the reaction on a gram scale. Meanwhile, the DFT calculation of the catalytic oxidative transformation pathway has also been studied.