Rh(III)-Catalyzed [3 + 3]-Coupling Cyclization of 3-Hydroxyisoindolinones with Carbenoids: Rapid Access to Spirolactam Skeletons.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed [3 + 3]-coupling cyclization of 3-hydroxy-3-phenylisoindolinone with carbenoids has been developed. The method provides an efficient approach to access polyfunctionalized-spiro[isochromene-1,1'-isoindolin]-3'-ones with good to excellent reaction conversions.