Synthesis of 1′-aryl-2′-(2-oxoindolin-3-yl)spiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrroline]-2,3′-dione via one-pot reaction of arylamines, acetone, and isatins

An efficient synthetic method for 1′-aryl-2′-(2-oxoindolin-3-yl)spiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrroline]-2,3′-diones was successfully developed via the one-pot domino reaction of arylamines, acetone, and isatins in acetic acid. The reaction mechanism involved the sequential Michael addition and ring closure of the in situ formed 3-N-aryliminoisatin and isatylidene acetone.