Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H acylmethylation of 2H-indazoles with sulfoxonium ylides

An efficient Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed direct acylmethylation of 2H-indazoles with sulfoxonium ylides has been realized under air atmosphere via chelation-assisted strategy. This protocol enables a regioselective access to a variety of ortho-acylmethylated 2-phenylindazole derivatives in moderate to good yield, which has the advantages of broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and operational convenience. The H/D exchange experiment reveals that a reversible cleavage of C–H bond might not be the rate-limiting step in this transformation.