Chemoselective Addition of Halomethyllithiums to Functionalized Isatins: A Straightforward Access to Spiro-Epoxyoxindoles

An efficient, chemoselective approach to spiro-epoxyoxindoles via the addition of chloromethyllithium followed by ring-closure of the intermediate alkoxide is reported. Chemoselectivity is fully preserved in the presence of different electrophilic sites. The synthetic potential of selected spiro-epoxyindoles has been exploited in the copper(I)-catalyzed intramolecular oxyarylation of an alkyne and in the formation of N,N-dimethylisoindigo via the addition of dihalocarbenoids.