3-Alkynyl-3-OBoc oxindoles underwent Cu(II) mediated Friedel-Crafts alkylation with indoles and phenols to yield of structurally diverse 3-alkynyl-3-indole/phenol-oxindole derivatives. The synthetic application of alkylated phenol derivatives were further demonstrated to biologically important new class of chromene fused spirooxindoles through intramolecular metal-free iodocyclization under mild reaction conditions with broad substrate scope in very good yields. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd