Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Isoquinolines from Aryl Ketone O-Acyloxime Derivatives and Internal Alkynes

A synthetic method of isoquinolines from aryl ketone O-acyloxime derivatives and internal allkynes has been developed using [Cp*RhCl2](2) NaOAc as the potential catalyst system. The present transformation is carried out by a redox-neutral sequence of C-H vinylation via ortho-rhodation and C-N bond formation of the putative vinyl rhodium intermediate on the oxime nitrogen, where the N-O bond of oxime derivatives could work as an internal oxidant to maintain the catalytic cycle.