Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral Oxidative Cyclization of Benzimidates with Alkenes with Hydrogen Evolution.

1H-Isoindoles and 2H-isoindoles are synthesized via a ruthenium-catalyzed oxidant-free cyclization of benzimidates with alkenes at room temperature with the liberation of H2. Later, 1H-isoindoles were converted into nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The proposed reaction mechanism was strongly supported by experimental evidence and DFT calculations.