Tunable and chemoselective syntheses of dihydroisobenzofurans and indanones via rhodium-catalyzed tandem reactions of 2-triazole-benzaldehydes and 2-triazole-alkylaryl ketones.

Two novel rhodium(II)-catalyzed tandem reactions were developed for the synthesis of dihydroisobenzofuran and indanone derivatives from 2-triazole-benzaldehydes and 2-triazole-alkylaryl ketones. Dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives were obtained in good yields with high regioselectivities when alcohols were used as nuclophiles in these reactions, whereas the replacement of the alcohol with water resulted in the diastereoselective formation of highly functionalized indanone derivatives.