Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation: An Oxidative Intramolecular Heck-Type Reaction Directed by a Carboxylic Acid.

Carboxylic acids effectively direct C-H activation for Rhodium(III)-catalyzed intramolecular Heck-type reactions. A catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)2 is used as the external oxidant with oxygen likely acting as the terminal oxidant. Additionally, a novel electron-deficient RhIII catalyst was found to be more effective that [RhCp*Cl2]2 with some substrates. A wide variety of complex dihydrobenzofurans, dihydrobenzopyrans, and other bicycles that can be easily further functionalized are now accessible through relatively mild reaction conditions.