Exploring a unique reactivity of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) in rhodium(III)-catalyzed intermolecular C-H activation/annulation.

Disclosed herein is the unique conjugative role of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands as a directing group in aromatic C-H activation, coupled with a facile NHC-alkenyl annulative reductive elimination which guided the Rh(III)-catalyzed intermolecular annulations of imidazolium salts and alkynes under ambient conditions leading to structurally important imidazo[1,2-a]quinolinium motifs.