Nickel(ii)-catalyzed tandem C(sp 2 )-H bond activation and annulation of arenes with gem -dibromoalkenes.

A nickel(ii)/silver(i)-catalyzed tandem C(sp 2 )-H activation and intramolecular annulation of arenes with dibromoalkenes has been successfully achieved, which offers an efficient approach to the 3-methyleneisoindolin-1-one scaffold. Attractive features of this system include its low cost, ease of operation, and its ability to access a wide range of isoindolinones.