The methylene-bridged Rh(1) dicarbonyl complex, [Rh(bim)(CO)(2) BPh4 (1) (bim = bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methane), is an effective catalyst for the intramolecular hydroamination of selected ortho-alkynylanilines to give a range of benzo(dipyrroles). (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.