Oxidant-free Rh(III)-catalyzed direct C-H olefination of arenes with allyl acetates.

Rh(III)-catalyzed direct olefination of arenes with allyl acetate via C-H bond activation is described using N,N-disubstituted aminocarbonyl as the directing group. The catalyst undergoes a redox neutral process, and high to excellent yields of trans-products are obtained. This protocol exhibits a wide spectrum of functionality compatibility because of the simple reaction conditions employed and provides a highly effective synthetic method in the realm of C-H olefination.