The dehydrogenativedirect coupling of α,α‐disubstituted benzylamines with acrylates takes place efficiently at room temperature under ruthenium catalysis, accompanied by freeaminogroup‐directedortho‐alkenylation and successive cyclization to produce (isoindol‐1‐yl)acetic acid derivatives. The reactions using styrenes in place of acrylates proceed effectively in the presence of a rhodium catalyst