A novel rhodium catalyzed pyridannulation of 3-substituted indoles with diazoenals furnished privileged pyrido[1,2-a]indoles. The reaction is proposed to involve a [4 + 2]-annulation of the diacceptor rhodium enalcarbenoid via C-2 functionalization of the indole. The utility of the methodology was demonstrated with a short synthesis of the tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]indole core, present in a large number of biologically important polycyclic indole alkaloids.
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