Rhodium catalyzed direct arylation of α-diazoimines.

An efficient rhodium catalyzed direct arylation of α-diazoimines, generated from readily accessible 1,2,3-triazole, has been accomplished for the synthesis of 2,2-diaryl enamides. The reaction involves the chemo- and regioselective insertion of rhodium azavinyl carbene into aromatic C(sp(2))-H bonds. Utility of the developed methodology was demonstrated in the synthesis of indole and tetrahydroisoquinoline frameworks.