Rh(III)‐Catalyzed C−H Annulation and Spirolactonization of 2‐Aryl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazoles with 4‐Hydroxy‐2‐alkynoates via C−H bond activation

Abstract

Rh(III) catalyzed C−H bond annulation and spirolactonization of 2‐aryl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazoles with 4‐hydroxy‐2‐alkynoates has been developed for the first time for the synthesis of a diverse range of 2’,2’‐dimethyl‐2’H‐spiro[benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1‐a]isoindole and fused dimethylbenzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1‐a]furo[3,4‐c]isoquinoline derivatives. This method is a versatile and atom‐economical to produce polycyclic frameworks in a single‐step.