Synthesis of Functionalized (η5-Indenyl)rhodium(III) Complexes and Their Application to C?H Bond Functionalization

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/asia.201701716

It has been established that reductive complexation of functionalized benzofulvenes, which are readily prepared from commercially available indene and 2-methylindene, with RhCl₃ in ethanol affords the corresponding indenyl–rhodium(III) dichlorides bearing substituents at the 1- (H or CO₂Et), 2- (H or Me), and 3- [CH₂Ph or CH₂(2-MeOC₆H₄)] positions. The indenyl–rhodium(III) complexes bearing one ethoxycarbonyl group showed higher thermal stability and regioselectivity than our previously reported Cp^ERh^III complex toward the oxidative [3+2] annulation of acetanilides with internal alkynes.