Chiral-Directing-Group-Assisted Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Inert Arene C-H Bond to Aldimines with Subsequent Intramolecular Cyclization.

By using a chiral directing group, an asymmetric rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H bond addition to aldimines followed by intramolecular cyclization to form chiral isoindolinones has been achieved (up to 68 % yield, up to 93 % ee). A three-component variant that resembles Mannich reaction was also realized (41 % yield, 83 % ee). Product elaborations and preliminary mechanistic studies were described.