A facile procedure for synthesis of 3-[2-(N,N-dialkylamino)ethyl]-3-fluorooxindoles by direct fluorination of N,N-dialkyltryptamines

A practical procedure for the synthesis of 3-fluorooxindole derivatives having basic amine moieties was developed, which involves Selectfluor™-mediated oxidative fluorination of N,N-dialkyltryptamines in the presence of Lewis acid. This procedure was applied to an antimigraine drug, rizatriptan, to afford the corresponding 3-fluorooxindole, which is a potential fluorine-containing drug candidate.