Rhodium-Catalyzed NH Insertion of Pyridyl Carbenes Derived from Pyridotriazoles: AGeneral and Efficient Approach to 2-Picolylamines and Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines

A general and efficient NH insertion reaction of rhodium pyridyl carbenes derived from pyridotriazoles was developed. Various NH-containing compounds, including amides, anilines, enamines, and aliphatic amines, smoothly underwent the NH insertion reaction to afford 2-picolylamine derivatives. The developed transformation was further utilized in a facile one-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.