tert‐Butyl Nitrite Promoted Visible‐Light‐Induced Steric‐Hindrance‐Regulated Concurrent Cross‐Coupling and Regioselective Nitration of 3‐Alkylidene‐2‐oxindoles

Abstract A tert ‐butyl nitrite (TBN) promoted visible‐light‐induced one‐pot C−N cross coupling reaction of 3‐alkylidene‐2‐oxindoles with benzene‐1,2‐diamine was explored. Simultaneously, the indoline motif of 3‐alkylidene‐2‐oxindoles as well as 3‐ylidene oxindoles are regioselectively nitrated at the C‐6 position by in‐situ formed NO 2 radical. ( E )‐3‐(2‐(aryl)‐2‐oxoethylidene)oxindole and ( E )‐3‐ylidene oxindole produce distinct nitrated diastereomeric coupling products, a phenomenon influenced by the steric bulk of the functional group. The experimental findings suggest the potential involvement of a radical pathway in this reaction.