Palladium-catalyzed C(sp2)–H aminoimidoylation of isocyano-containing arenes: synthesis of amino substituted N-heterocycles

An efficient access to amino substituted phenanthridine and isoquinoline derivatives, through palladium-catalyzed C(sp2)–H aminoimidoylation, has been developed. This process applies O-benzoyl hydroxylamines as oxidative amino sources to generate amino Pd(II) intermediates, followed by isocyanide insertion and intramolecular C(sp2)–H activation. Sequential C–N and C–C bond formation took place on isocyano-containing arenes in one step.