Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation of N-carbamoylindoles with CF3-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides for the divergent synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted (dihydro)pyrimidoindolones

An efficient and straightforward strategy for the divergent synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted (dihydro)pyrimidoindolones via Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation of N-carbamoylindoles with CF3-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides has been achieved. The cascade reaction might proceed through a C–H imidoylmethylation, tautomerization and intramolecular nucleophilic addition sequence. A wide range of functionalized pyrimidoindolone derivatives were constructed in good to excellent yields under redox-neutral conditions.