Rh(III)‐Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization of 2‐Aryl‐3H‐indoles and CF3‐Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides Toward Trifluoroacetimidoyl‐Substituted 11H‐Isoindolo[2,1‐a]indoles

Abstract A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C−H activation/[4+1] annulation of 2‐aryl‐3 H ‐indoles and CF 3 ‐substituted imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides (TFISYs) has been achieved, producing a wide variety of trifluoroacetimidoyl‐substituted 11 H ‐isoindolo[2,1‐a]indoles in 51–86% yields. The cascade reaction involves C−H imidoylmethylation, tautomerization and AgOAc‐mediated C−N bond formation sequence. The reaction could be scaled up to 2 mmol scale.