Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H/C-C activation sequence: vinylcyclopropanes as versatile synthons in direct C-H allylation reactions.

Succession of C-H activation and C-C activation was achieved by using a single rhodium(III) catalyst. Vinylcyclopropanes were used as versatile coupling partners. Mechanistic studies suggest that the olefin insertion step is rate-determining and a facile β-carbon elimination is involved, which represents a novel ring opening mode of vinylcyclopropanes.