Rh(III)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling/Annulation of Two Carbene Precursors: Construction of Dihydrobenzo[c]chromen‐6‐one Scaffolds and Application in the Total Synthesis of Cannabinol

A cross‐coupling/annulation reaction of sulfoxonium ylides with iodonium ylides has been reported by Rh(III)‐catalyzed C−H functionalization pathway to provide a direct access to valuable dihydrobenzo[ c ]chromen‐6‐one derivatives. In this catalytic system, sulfoxonium ylide functionality acts as a traceless directing group (DG), and iodonium ylide acts as carbene precursor resulting in a highly selective reaction. The synthetic utility of this methodology is demonstrated by diverse synthetic transformations, core structure of Urolithin derivatives and total synthesis of cannabinol natural product.