Copper-catalyzed oxidative benzylarylation of acrylamides by benzylic C-H bond functionalization for the synthesis of oxindoles.

Radically changing benzyls: An efficient method for the benzylarylation of activated alkenes has been developed through a copper-catalyzed tandem radical addition/cyclization strategy (see scheme). This oxidative coupling between acrylamides and benzylic hydrocarbons provides access to diverse alkyl-substituted oxindoles in good to excellent yields. A variety of functional groups were tolerated in this transformation (TBPB = tert-butylperoxy benzoate).