A cascade reaction of indolyl-migratory isocyanide insertion, scaffold rearrangement and redox-neutral event with isocyanide as a CH-N synthon efficiently constructs indolylisoindolinones.

Herein, we report a Pd(0)-catalyzed cascade reaction of intramolecular indolyl isocyanide-insertion, isocyanide-initiated scaffold-rearrangement with indolyl migration and redox-neutral process, which affords an efficient access to indolylisoindolinones. Isocyanide as a CH-N synthon and the alkyl motif of isocyanide as a hydride source have been explored for the first time.