Facile synthesis of isatins by direct oxidation of indoles and 3-iodoindoles using NIS/IBX

A facile one-pot access to a broad range of isatins by direct oxidation of indoles using NIS/IBX reagent in DMSO at 25?°C in very good isolated yields is reported. It is shown by mechanistic investigations that a number of substituted indoles react rapidly with NIS in DMSO to produce intermediary 3-iodoindoles, which undergo oxidation subsequently to isatins with IBX.