A Versatile Rhodium(I) Catalyst System for the Addition of Heteroarenes to both Alkenes and Alkynes by a CH Bond Activation

Rhod to Addition: A highly efficient and convenient rhodium catalyst system was developed for the title transformation. A base co-catalyst was found to facilitate the key arene CH bond-activation step and substrate scope was very broad, including both electron-deficient pyridine N-oxides, and electron-rich azoles. The catalytic system was effective for the hydroheteroarylation of both alkenes and alkynes and gave excellent regio- and stereoselectivity.