Rh(III)‐catalyzed C‐H Activation of Aryl‐Hydroxamates for the Synthesis of Isoindolinones

We report a Rh(III)‐catalyzed C‐H functionalization reaction yielding isoindolinones from aryl‐hydroxamates and ortho‐substituted styrenes. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions at room temperature, and tolerates a range of functional groups. Experimental and computational investigations support that the high regioselectivity observed for these substrates results from the presence of an ortho‐substituent embedded in the styrene. The resulting isoindolinones are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. They provide  easy access to the natural product‐like compounds, isoindolobenzazepines, in a one‐pot‐two‐step reaction. Selected isoindolinones inhibited Hedgehog (Hh)‐dependent differentiation of multipotent murine mesenchymal progenitor stem cells into osteoblasts.