A New Reaction Mode of 3-Halooxindoles: Acting as C-C-O Three-Atom Components for (3+3) Cycloaddition to Access Indolenine-Fused 2 H-1,4-Oxathiines

Org Lett. 2023 Dec 29;25(51):9191-9196. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03745. Epub 2023 Dec 19.

Abstract

Herein, we report an unprecedented implementation of 3-halooxindoles as C-C-O three-atom components for (3+3) cycloaddition with pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates, affording structurally diverse indolenine-fused 2H-1,4-oxathiines in moderate to high yields. A combined experimental and computational mechanistic study suggests that the reaction proceeds through addition of a S conjugate to the o-azaxylylene intermediate, followed by O-Michael addition and a sequential retro-Michael addition/pyridine extrusion pathway.