Rhodium-Catalyzed Direct Alkenylation and Arylation of Arene C−H Bonds via Decarbonylation of Cinnamoyl Chlorides, Cinnamic Anhydrides, and Poly(aroyl) Chlorides

Efficient regioselective direct alkenylation of benzo[ h ]quinoline was realized with cinnamoyl chlorides as the coupling partners via decarbonylation of the chlorides and C−H bond activation by means of [Rh(CO) 2 Cl] 2 as the catalyst in refluxing o -xylene under phosphine-free conditions. For 2-phenylpyridine, [Rh(CO) 2 Cl] 2 or [Rh(COD)Cl] 2 efficiently promoted its direct alkenylation with cinnamic anhydrides. Polyarenes were synthesized from [Rh(COD)Cl] 2 -catalyzed decarbonylative poly(arylation) of isophthaloyl dichloride, terephthaloyl dichloride, or benzene-1,3,5-tricarbonyl chloride with benzo[ h ]quinoline.