An evaluation study of various palladium supports led to the selection of charcoal as the most efficient system for the preparation of oxindoles by sequential Heck-reduction-cyclization (HRC) reactions. The in situ prepared Pd0/C was not recyclable for further cross-coupling reactions but remains still highly active for reduction processes. The sustainable chemistry described herein allows extremely simple experimental protocol Under mild conditions, free of any base, ligand and additive. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.