Baylis–Hillman adducts in rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-additions: unusual reactivity

In the presence of a rhodium catalyst, unactivated Baylis-Hillman adducts reacted with arylboronic acids to afford trisubstituted alkenes with good yields. This highly efficient reaction (aerobic conditions, low temperature) is believed to proceeds via an unexpected mechanism involving 1,4-addition/beta-hydroxy elimination steps and not pi-allyl type rhodium intermediates.