Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroacylation of para-Quinone Methides with Salicylaldehydes: An Approach to α,α-Diaryl-2-Hydroxy Acetophenones.

A rhodium-catalyzed hydroacylation of para-quinone methides (p-QMs) with salicylaldehydes has been disclosed. This method allows for the construction of α,α-diaryl-2-hydroxy acetophenones through tandem C-H activation/C-C bond formation/aromatization process. Moreover, this unprecedented hydroacylation of trisubstituted alkenes exhibits good yields with broad functional group tolerance as well as gram-scale capacity.