Rh(III)-Catalyzed Mild Synthesis of Isoquinoline Derivatives from N-Chloroimines and Alkenes

The Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation protocol enables efficient assembly of isoquinoline derivatives from N-chloroimines and alkenes under oxidant-free mild conditions. This strategy overcomes traditional limitations by merging operational simplicity with an exceptional functional group tolerance. The scalable methodology provides direct access to pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds, exemplified by the synthesis of papaverine using readily available substrates. This methodology not only advances the synthesis of heterocyclic frameworks but also unlocks avenues for the construction of structurally diverse bioactive molecules.