Hypervalent Iodine(III)‐Mediated 1,2‐Aryl Migration in 3‐Arylideneindolin‐2‐ones: A Route to 3‐Aryloxindole Derivatives

A new and effective metal‐free method for synthesizing 3‐aryloxindole derivatives through hypervalent iodine(III)‐mediated 1,2‐aryl migration in 3‐arylideneindolin‐2‐ones is presented in this study. The reaction utilizes (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (DIB) in methanol to trigger skeletal oxidative rearrangement, resulting in the formation of all‐carbon quaternary centers at the C3 position of oxindoles. This approach provides a mild and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional metal‐catalyzed processes, offering broad substrate tolerance. Furthermore, this method provides a valuable synthetic route for constructing biologically significant 3‐aryloxindole derivatives with potential pharmaceutical applications.