Harnessing hypervalent iodonium ylides as carbene precursors: C-H activation of N-methoxybenzamides with a Rh(iii)-catalyst

Hypervalent iodonium ylides expeditiously generate carbenes which undergo domino intermolecular C-H activation followed by intramolecular condensation in the presence of N-methoxybenzamide as a starting material and a Rh(iii)-catalyst to afford dihydrophenanthridines. KIE studies and DFT calculations were performed to substantiate the mechanistic pathway. To extend the synthetic utilisation, fluorescent pyranoisocoumarins were achieved by using Rh(iii)-catalyzed peri-C-H/O-H activation/annulation reactions.