Rhodium(III)-catalyzed intermolecular cyclization of anilines with sulfoxonium ylides toward indoles

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed synthesis of indole derivatives has been realized via cascade reaction of CH alkylation/nucleophilic cyclization starting from readily available N-phenylpyridin-2-amines and sulfoxonium ylides. Notably, this transformation could smoothly proceed with high yields, good regioselectivity, and feature broad group tolerance and under redox-neutral condition to avoid external oxidant. The titled products are potentially important building blocks in the organic synthesis through various chemical transformations.