Ruthenium-catalyzed site-selective C-H bond activation/annulation cascade toward dibenzoazepinone skeletons

A free amine-directed ruthenium(II)-catalyzed hydroarylation and concomitant regioselective transamidation cascade between 2-aminobiphenyls and diversely substituted maleimides is reported, furnishing biologically relevant dibenzo[b,d]azepinone scaffolds in high yields. The protocol accommodates a range of functional groups and showcases synthesis of dibenzoazepinones bearing amino acid side chains through substrate design.