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

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 alpha-branched ketones, which were difficult to prepare by previously reported analogous catalytic reactions.

Automated summary

In this study, we developed a rhodium-catalyzed alkoxylcarbonylation/acylation method using anhydrides as the carbonyl source to synthesize C7-carbonylated indolines. This catalytic process is additive- and CO-free, and it successfully achieves the C-H acylation of indolines, leading to the formation of alpha-branched ketones that were difficult to prepare using previously reported analogous catalytic reactions.