benzylic position has been achieved via a 'transition-metal-free' intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling (IDC). The construction of 2-oxindole moieties was carried out through formation of carbon-carbon bonds using KOt-Bu-catalyzed one pot C-alkylation of beta-N-arylamido esters with alkyl halides followed by a dehydrogenative coupling. Experimental evidences indicated toward a radical-mediated path for