An Rh­(III)-catalyzed 1,1-cyclization of N-methoxy benzamides with maleimides providing isoindolinone spirosuccinimides through N–H/C–H/N–O bond activation is described. The detailed mechanistic investigation including isolation of key metalacycle intermediate, deuterium labeling studies, and DFT calculations were performed. The computational study reveals that the AcOH that formed in the reaction medium plays a key role in the N–OMe bond cleavage and the oxidation of Rh­(I) to Rh­(III).

Air-stable, highly abundant, and cost-effective Co(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral [4 + 2]-annulation of aromatic sulfoxonium ylides with 1,3-diynes providing useful substituted 1-naphthol derivatives in a regioselective manner is described. Further, the prepared 1-naphthols having internal alkyne were converted into useful polycarbocyclic molecules and spiro-dienone derivatives in good-to-excellent yields. A possible reaction mechanism involving ortho C−H activation as a key step was proposed and supported by deuterium labeling and kinetic isotope labeling studies.

A ruthenium-catalyzed remote sulfonylation at the C5 position of the pyridine group of N-aryl-2-aminopyridines with aromatic sulfonyl chlorides is described. The mechanistic and deuterium labeling studies clearly reveal that the ruthenametallacycle is a key intermediate in the reaction, which forms via the C-H bond activation. The DFT calculation supports that the C5 position of the 2-aminopyridine group carries a more negative charge (-0.304) as compared with other carbons in the metalacycle intermediate.

An efficient synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinones through [4+2]-annulation of N-chlorobenzamides/acrylamides having a monodentate directing group with alkylidenecyclopropanes in the presence of a less expensive, highly abundant and air stable Co(III)...

A ruthenium(II)-catalyzed redox-free cycloaddition of N-sulfonyl aromatic aldimines with maleimides providing 1-aminoindanes in good yields is described. Usually, maleimides reacted with substituted aromatics, affording the Michael-type ortho alkylated aromatics or 1,1-type cyclized spirosuccinimides. In the present reaction, maleimides provided 1,2-type cycloaddition products. The proposed mechanism was strongly supported by the DFT calculations and isolation of a ruthenacycle intermediate.