Facile generation of bridged medium-sized polycyclic systems by rhodium-catalysed intramolecular (3+2) dipolar cycloadditions

The bridged medium-sized ring bicyclo[m.n.2] family of natural products are commonly found but difficult to synthesize efficiently. Here the authors present a cascade reaction to form the carbon skeleton, via a [3+2] cycloaddition of a captured azavinyl carbene intermediate.