One-step synthesis of indolizino[3,4,5- ab ]isoindoles by manganese(I)-catalyzed C-H activation: structural studies and photophysical properties.

Herein, a regioselective synthesis of indolizino[3,4,5- ab ]isoindoles, a valuable class of heterocycles with interesting luminescence properties, is described using manganese(I)-catalyzed C-H activation. The reported transformation proceeds in one-step and employs readily available 2-phenylpyridines as starting materials. Furthermore, the obtained single products exhibit blue-greenish fluorescence with high quantum yields.