Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed oxidative [3+2] annulation of arylboron reagents and 7-azabenzonorbornadienes via transmetalation-initiated C–H activation†

Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative [3+2] annulation between arylboron reagents and azabicyclic olefins is presented. This system offers an effective example of transmetalation-promoted C–H activation using easily available arylboron reagents, which provides a series of cis-fused dihydrocarbazoles via both ipso and ortho functionalization of the arylboron reagents. Importantly, this annulation reaction circumvents the reliance on a directing group in the arene ring.