A mild and efficient CAN mediated oxidation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts of 5-methyl-N-alkylisatin to 5-formyl-N-alkylisatin

A simple, mild and efficient CAN mediated oxidation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts of 5-methyl-N-alkylisatins 1a-13a to 5-formyl-N-alkylisatins 1b-13b under ambient reaction conditions is reported. Simple and isomerized 5-methyl-N-alkylisatin derivatives 1-4 have also been tested and failed to provide the corresponding formylated products. A plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed.