Palladium(ii)-catalyzed C-C and C-O bond formation for the synthesis of C1-benzoyl isoquinolines from isoquinoline N-oxides and nitroalkenes.

C1-Benzoyl isoquinolines can be generated via a palladium(ii)-catalyzed C-C and C-O coupling of isoquinoline N-oxides with aromatic nitroalkenes. The reaction proceeds through remote C-H bond activation and subsequent intramolecular oxygen atom transfer (OAT). In this reaction, the N-O bond was designed as a directing group in the C-H bond activation as well as the source of an oxygen atom.