Easy access to isoquinolines and tetrahydroquinolines from ketoximes and alkynes via rhodium-catalyzed C-H bond activation

A convenient and highly regioselective synthesis of substituted isoquinoline derivatives from various aromatic ketoximes and alkynes via a one-pot, rhodium-catalyzed C-H bond activation is described. A probable mechanism that involves chelation-assisted C-H activation via oxidative addition of Rh(I) to an ortho-C-H bond, insertion of the alkyne, reductive elimination, intramolecular electrocyclization, and aromatization is also described.