biostudies-literatureGao QCNatural Science Foundation of Hubei ProvinceSouth-Central University for NationalitiesNational Natural Science Foundation of China100-106https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9907013biostudies-literatureUnknown19Herein, we report an unprecedented Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation cascade of readily available enaminones with iodonium ylides towards the convenient synthesis of isocoumarins. This coupling system proceeds in useful chemical yields (up to 93%) via a cascade C-H activation, Rh-carbenoid migratory insertion and acid-promoted intramolecular annulation. The success of gram-scale reaction and diverse functionalization of isocoumarins demonstrated the synthetic utility of this protocol.Beilstein journal of organic chemistryPractical synthesis of isocoumarins via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation cascade.PMC9907013No. 21901258, 22271314, 21971001 and 21702001YZZ190032021CFA022Hu XQGao QCXuan JLi YFfalsePractical synthesis of isocoumarins via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation cascade.Herein, we report an unprecedented Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation cascade of readily available enaminones with iodonium ylides towards the convenient synthesis of isocoumarins. This coupling system proceeds in useful chemical yields (up to 93%) via a cascade C-H activation, Rh-carbenoid migratory insertion and acid-promoted intramolecular annulation. The success of gram-scale reaction and diverse functionalization of isocoumarins demonstrated the synthetic utility of this protocol.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232026-03-17T15:57:40.028Z2025-04-04T18:44:05.771ZS-EPMC99070133676147110.3762/bjoc.19.10