α-MsO/TsO/Cl ketones as oxidized alkyne equivalents: redox-neutral rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation for the synthesis of N-heterocycles.

α-Halo and pseudohalo ketones are used for the first time as C(sp(3))-based electrophiles in transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation and as oxidized alkyne equivalents in Rh(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral annulations to generate diverse N-heterocycles. This transformation is efficient and scalable. Due to the mild reaction conditions, a variety of functional groups could be tolerated.