Rh(III)-Catalyzed C7-Alkylation of Isatogens with Malonic Acid Diazoesters.

Rh(III)-catalyzed C7-alkylation of isatogens (indolin-3-one -oxides) with malonic acid diazoesters has been developed. This strategy utilizes oxygen anion on the -oxide group of isatogens as a directing group and successfully achieves the synthesis of a series of C7-alkylated isatogens with moderate to good yields (48-86% yields). Moreover, the -oxides of isatogens can not only serve as the simple directing group for C7-H bond cleavage but also be deoxidized for easy removal.