Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>A palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular <jats:italic>α</jats:italic>‐arylation of an amide in the presence of a bulky chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand is the key step in the first catalytic synthesis of (3<jats:italic>R</jats:italic>)‐6‐chloro‐3‐(3‐chlorobenzyl)‐1,3‐dihydro‐3‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐2<jats:italic>H</jats:italic>‐indol‐2‐one ((<jats:italic>R</jats:italic>)‐<jats:bold>5</jats:bold>). This oxindole, in racemic form, had been shown previously to be an anticancer agent. (<jats:italic>R</jats:italic>)‐<jats:bold>5</jats:bold> was obtained with an overall yield of 45% and with 96% enantioselectivity.</jats:p>