Rhodium-catalyzed C-H alkynylation of arenes at room temperature

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed ortho C-H alkynylation of non-electronically activated arenes is disclosed. This process features a straightforward and highly effective protocol for the synthesis of functionalized alkynes and represents the first example of merging a hypervalent iodine reagent with rhodium(III) catalysis. Notably, this reaction proceeds at room temperature, tolerates a variety of functional groups, and more importantly, exhibits high selectivity for monoalkynylation. Hot rhod: A rhodium-catalyzed, electronically reversed Sonogashira reaction between unbiased arenes and the hypervalent iodine reagent 1 proceeds through C-H activation. This reaction displays excellent functional-group tolerance and high efficiency, and thus opens a new synthetic pathway to access functionalized alkynes. Cp*=C₅Me₅, DCE=1,2-dichloroethane, Piv=pivaloyl, TIPS=triisopropylsilyl.