Unified and Benign Synthesis of Spirooxindoles via Bifunctional and Recyclable Iodide‐Salt‐Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling in Water

Herein we develop a novel micellar catalytic system based on amphiphilic bifunctional iodide salts for oxidative intramolecular α‐oxygenation and α‐amination of carbonyl substrates in water, thus enabling a unified and benign synthesis of various 2‐oxindoles containing spirotetrahydrobenzofurans, spiroisochromanones, spiroindolines and spirolactones. Notably, the terminal oxidant H 2 O 2 produced water as the only by‐product. The excellent recyclability of the aqueous medium containing the catalyst further highlights the synthetic utility of this system.