Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral C-H Activation/Annulation of N-Aryloxyacetamides with Alkynyloxiranes: Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans

J Org Chem. 2018 Aug 17;83(16):9464-9470. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b01166. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Abstract

Alkynyloxiranes have been employed for the first time as effective coupling partners in Cp*RhIII-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions. Their annulation with N-aryloxyamides then offers a redox-neutral and efficient synthesis of functionalized 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans bearing an exocyclic E-allylic alcohol and a tetrasubstituted carbon center in good yields with a broad substrate scope. The products can be easily converted to molecules with more complexity, which provides an opportunity for rapid assembly of structurally diverse heterocycles.