Application of copper(II)-mediated radical cross-dehydrogenative coupling to prepare spirocyclic oxindoles and to a formal total synthesis of Satavaptan

Application of radical cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) procedures to prepare a range of novel spirocyclic oxindoles and to a formal total synthesis of the vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist Satavaptan is reported. The key step involves a copper-mediated oxidative cyclisation of a simple linear anilide precursor to give the spirocyclic oxindole core. This synthetic approach was also used to prepare novel Satavaptan scaffolds and analogues.