Synthesis of 2‑Trifluoromethylindolines via Rh(III)-Catalyzed Chelation-Assisted C–H Bond Activation and Annulation of Anilines with CF3‑Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides

Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H bond activation and annulation of N-pyrimidyl-substituted anilines with CF3-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides (TFISYs) have been disclosed, affording a variety of 2-trifluoromethylindolines that contain a quaternary carbon center. A cascade C–H imidoylmethylation, tautomerization, and intramolecular nucleophilic addition sequence is involved in the transformation. The reaction could be scaled up to 2 mmol. The protocol provides facile and straightforward access to biologically important indoline scaffolds with a trifluoromethyl and an amino functionality.