Ortho alkylation of aromatic ketimine with functionalized alkene by Rh(I) catalyst.

[reaction: see text] The reaction of the imine of aromatic ketones with functionalized alkenes was performed under a catalytic amount of (PPh3)3RhCl, and corresponding ortho-alkylated ketones were obtained after hydrolysis. A variety of functional groups in the alkene were tolerated in this ortho alkylation. This procedure expands the scope of ortho alkylation to the direct ortho functionalization of aromatic ketones.