Rh(III)-Catalyzed Addition of Alkenyl C-H Bond to Isocyanates and Intramolecular Cyclization: Direct Synthesis 5-Ylidenepyrrol-2(5H)-ones

The rhodium-catalyzed addition of an alkenyl C-H bond to isocyanates via sp(2) C-H bond activation followed by an intramolecular cyclization is described. This atom-economic and catalytic reaction affords a simple and straightforward access to biologically relevant 5-ylidene pyrrol-2(5H)-ones and can be carried out under mild and neutral conditions in the absence of any additives and environmentally hazardous waste production.