Rh(III)-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral Annulation of Primary Benzamides with Diazo Compounds: Approach to Isoquinolinones

Abstract

Reported herein is a Rh-catalyzed redox-neutral annulation of primary benzamides with diazo compounds, representing an efficient and economic protocol to isoquinolinones. The procedure exhibited good functional group tolerability, scalability, and regioselectivity, obviating the need for oxidants, and only environmentally benign N2 and H2O were released. Further utilization of the method provided an alternative route to functionalized isoquinolines.