Substrate-controlled Rh(ii)-catalyzed single-electron-transfer (SET): divergent synthesis of fused indoles

Abstract

Rh(II)-catalyzed diversified ring expansions controlled by single-electron-transfer (SET) have been disclosed in this communication, producing a series of indole-fused azetidines and 1H-carbazoles or related derivatives in moderate to good yields via Rh₂^III,II nitrene radical intermediates. The direction of ring expansion branches according to different ring sizes of methylenecycloalkanes.