Free-Radical Cascade Alkylarylation of Alkenes with Simple Alkanes: Highly Efficient Access to Oxindoles via Selective (sp3)C—H and (sp2)C—H Bond Functionalization.

A copper-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with simple alkanes was achieved, which not only provided an efficient method to prepare various alkyl-substituted oxindoles, but also represented a novel strategy for selective sp3 C–H functionalization/C–C bond formation via a free-radical cascade process. Additionally, selective activation of unactivated (sp3)C–H and (sp2)C–H bonds by one single step is achieved in this system, which would also provide a novel strategy for raising efficiency in C–H bond functionalization.