Rhodium-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Alkoxycarbonylation/Acylation of Indolines with Anhydrides as a Carbonyl Source

Org Lett. 2022 Feb 11;24(5):1141-1145. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c04195. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Abstract

We developed rhodium-catalyzed alkoxylcarbonylation/acylation of indolines using anhydrides as a safe and easy-to-handle carbonyl source. This catalytic process represents an additive- and CO-free carbonylation, establishing a simple and straightforward protocol for synthesizing C7-carbonylated indolines. Notably, this reaction provides a successful example of C-H acylation of indolines that results in the formation of α-branched ketones, which were difficult to prepare by previously reported analogous catalytic reactions.