Rhodium( <scp>iii</scp> )-catalyzed oxidative [3+2] annulation of arylboron reagents and 7-azabenzonorbornadienes <i>via</i> 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 <i>cis</i>-fused dihydrocarbazoles <i>via</i> both <i>ipso</i> and <i>ortho</i> functionalization of the arylboron reagents. Importantly, this annulation reaction circumvents the reliance on a directing group in the arene ring.