Highly selective C–H bond activation of N-arylbenzimidamide and divergent couplings with diazophosphonate compounds: a catalyst-controlled selective synthetic strategy for 3-phosphorylindoles and 4-phosphorylisoquinolines

Abstract

A highly efficient synthetic strategy to construct 3-phosphorylindole and 4-phosphorylisoquinoline privileged scaffolds via selective C–H bond activations of N-phenylbenzimidamide and the subsequent divergent couplings with diazophosphonate compounds was achieved successfully by altering the Rh(III)/Ru(II) catalyst systems. This protocol features excellent chemoselectivity, wide substrate tolerance and mild reaction conditions, which might find wider application in the discovery of lead compounds in the future.