Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Oxindolyl-Pyrroles and Quinolines via a One-Pot, Sequential Meyer–Schuster Rearrangement, Anti-Michael Addition/C_(sp³)–H Functionalization, and Azacyclization

A one-pot, sequential Meyer–Schuster (MS) rearrangement of oxindole-derived propargyl alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated enones and their anti-Michael addition, followed by intramolecular azacyclization is described in a highly regioselective manner using Ca­(OTf)₂ as the promoter. Further, we described the one-pot MS rearrangement, followed by C_(sp³)–H functionalization of 2-methyl azaarenes at α-carbon of these doubly activated alkenes. Control experiments and computational calculations were performed to propose the reaction mechanism