A new transition‐metal‐free 9‐azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐N‐oxyl (ABNO) catalyzed aerobic oxidative synthesis of 2‐substituted 4H‐3,1‐benzoxazines and quinazolines has been developed through cascade reaction of aldehydes with 2‐aminobenzyl alcohols and 2‐aminobenzylamines, respectively. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the two kinds of heterocycles were obtained in 72–97 % isolated yield.

An efficient rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation followed by intermolecular annulation between enamides and sulfoxonium ylides has been developed.

A three-component reaction from readily available low-cost materials of benzoic acids, formaldehyde, and malonates for the preparation of indanones by rhodium catalysis is reported. The annulation is initiated by an ortho-hydroarylation of benzoic acids, and a Lewis acid is not required. The solvent has a significant influence to the reaction, and 2-substituted or nonsubstituted indanones are obtained by the change of solvent.