Iron-Catalyzed Radical Methylation of Activated Alkenes with tert-Butanol as the Methyl Source

A free-radical-initiated methylation/addition/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides and a methylation/addition/elimination of quinines have been developed in which t-BuOH is used as a methyl source. These reactions provide effective and selective methods for the synthesis of various methylated oxindoles and quinones in moderate to good yields.