The structures and biological activities of naturally occurring 3‐alkenyl‐oxindoles are reviewed. Important man‐made3‐alkenyl‐oxindoles are covered, particularly those with pharmaceutical applications such as sunitinib (SU11248), the orally active receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor marketed by Pfizer as Sutent®. Traditional synthetic approaches to 3‐alkenyl‐oxindoles are summarised and then recently developed tandem/telescoped synthetic routes are described.