A Rhodium-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Annulation of General Aromatic Aldimines/Ketimines and N-Substituted Maleimides.

A new class of rhodium-catalyzed, C-H activation triggered [3 + 2] annulations of aromatic aldimines or ketimines and maleimides was reported in this study. A broad scope of general imines without electron-withdrawing groups were successfully activated and could effectively react with N-substituted maleimide to afford pericyclic, multichiral centered amines in good yields and with excellent diastereoselectivity.