In this paper, an efficient and sustainable synthesis of the synthetically and pharmaceutically significant maleimide-fused benzocarbazoles/imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from the reaction of 2-arylindoles/2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with maleimides through rhodium-catalyzed oxidative [4 + 2] annulation...

An unprecedented synthesis of functionalized naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carbaldehydes with cyclic α-diazo-1,3-diketones is presented.

An efficient synthesis of indeno­[1,2-c]­furan and 3-benzoylindenone derivatives through a FeCl3-catalyzed carbene/alkyne metathesis reaction of o-alkynylbenzoyl diazoacetates is presented. Mechanistically, the key intermediate, vinyl iron carbene, is formed by 5-exo-dig carbocyclization and terminated with a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition or carbonylation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example in which FeCl3 is used as a catalyst for a carbene/alkyne metathesis reaction. Finally, derivatization reactions were carried out to showcase the value of the products.