An unprecedented synthetic approach to novel 4-aryl-1-methyloxindoles is described. The method involves the intramolecular palladium-catalyzed amidation of N-methyl-2,6-dibromophenylacetamide followed by an in situ Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with a (hetero)arylboronic acid in a one-pot reaction. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.