A cascade reaction of indolyl-migratory isocyanide insertion, scaffold rearrangement and redox-neutral event with isocyanide as a C(sp3)H-N synthon efficiently constructs indolylisoindolinones.

Herein, we report a Pd(0)-catalyzed cascade reaction of intramolecular indolyl isocyanide-insertion, isocyanide-initiated scaffold-rearrangement with indolyl migration and redox-neutral process, which affords an efficient access to indolylisoindolinones. Isocyanide as a C(sp3)H-N synthon and the alkyl motif of isocyanide as a hydride source have been explored for the first time.

Annulation of Conjugated Azine-Imine with a Sulfoxonium Ylide in a Noncarbenoid Route to Synthesize Multisubstituted Imidazole-Fused Heterocycles.

A new [4+1]-annulation of in situ generated heterocyclic azine-aldimines with ß-keto sulfoxonium ylides has been developed. The reaction constructs N-fused imidazole rings. In the reaction, the ylides play a dual-functional role of a nucleophilic 1,1-dipolar one-carbon synthon and a source of an internal oxidant, dimethyl sulfoxide, that promotes in situ dehydrogenation to product scaffolds. The method enables access to imidazo-pyridine, pyrazine, and pyrimidine heteroaromatics.