Rhodium-Catalyzed NH-Indole-Directed C–H Carbonylation with Carbon Monoxide: Synthesis of 6<i>H</i>-Isoindolo[2,1-<i>a</i>]indol-6-ones

Abstract

An efficient synthesis of 6H-isoindolo[2,1-a]indol-6-ones through rhodium-catalyzed NH-indole-directed C-H carbonylation of 2-arylindoles with carbon monoxide has been developed. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that this reaction proceeds via N-H bond cleavage and subsequent C-H bond cleavage. Reaction monitoring via ESI-MS was used to support the formation of five-membered rhodacycle species in the catalytic cycle.