A new route to prepare 6-chloro-5-(2-chloroethyl)oxindole

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/op020095k

6-Chloro-5-(2-chloroethyl)oxindole, a key intermediate in the manufacturing of the antipsychotic drug, ziprasidone, has been synthesized by a new route. The salient features of the synthesis are (1) bis-dialkylation of 2,4-difluoro-5-chloronitrobenzene with sodium diethyl malonate, (2) decarboxylative hydrolysis to obtain the oxindole derivative, and (3) reduction and chlorination of acetic ester side chain.