Facile Synthesis of Isoindolinones via Rh(III)-Catalyzed One-Pot Reaction of Benzamides, Ketones, and Hydrazines

A Rh(III)-catalyzed one-pot reaction of benzamides, ketones, and hydrazines for facile access to isoindolinones is reported. In this method, various ketones are transformed into donor-donor diazo compounds, which sequentially engage in insertion with benzamides under Rh(III) catalysis to generate N-substituted quaternary isoindolinones.