Ru(II)-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization of 2-Arylbenzimidazoles with Iodonium Ylides: A Straightforward Access to Bridgehead Polycyclic N-Heterocycles.

Herein, we disclose an efficient ruthenium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of 2-arylbenzimidazoles/2-arylimidazoles with iodonium ylides leading to substituted tetracyclic and pentacyclic bridgehead N-heterocycles, wherein iodonium ylide acts as a carbene precursor. For the first time, iodonium ylide proceeds through a Ru-carbenoid intermediate. Further, the synthetic utility of this protocol was successfully shown for gram-scale synthesis and useful synthetic transformations.