Distal-Bond-Selective C-C Activation of Ring-Fused Cyclopentanones: An Efficient Access to Spiroindanones

A site-selective rhodium-catalyzed C-C activation of ring-fused cyclopentanones was achieved to afford efficient access to a range of spiroindanones. The use of bulky 2-amino-6-picoline as a cocatalyst is key to the excellent selectivity of this C-C bond cleavage in cyclopentanones.