Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation via Catalytically Generated Aminocarbene Complexes: Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroaminative Cyclization of Enynes with Secondary Amines.

We report a hydroaminative cyclization of enynes using phosphine-quinolinolato rhodium catalysts. The hydroaminative cyclization of 2-vinylphenylacetylene derivatives with secondary amines gives 2-aminoindenes in good yields. The reaction is considered to proceed through carbon-carbon bond formation on a catalytically generated aminocarbene ligand.