C-F Bond Cleavage Enabled Redox-Neutral [4+1] Annulation via C-H Bond Activation.

Using α,α-difluoromethylene alkyne as a nontraditional one-carbon reaction partner, a synthetically novel method for the construction of isoindolin-1-one derivatives via Rh(III)-catalyzed [4+1] annulation reaction is reported. The 2-fold C-F bond cleavage not only enables the generation of desired product under an overall oxidant-free condition but also results in a net migration of carbon-carbon triple bond. In addition, the present reaction protocol exhibits a tolerance of a wide spectrum of functional groups due to the mild reaction conditions employed.