Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C-H annulation of 2-acetyl-1-arylhydrazines with sulfoxonium ylides: synthesis of 2-arylindoles.

An efficient Rh(iii)-catalyzed synthesis of 2-arylindole derivatives via intermolecular C-H annulation of arylhydrazines with sulfoxonium ylides was accomplished. A variety of 2-acetyl-1-arylhydrazines with sulfoxonium ylides were converted into 2-arylindoles in satisfactory yields. Excellent selectivity and good functional group tolerance of this transformation were also observed.