Rh^I‐Catalyzed Benzo/[7+1] Cycloaddition of Cyclopropyl‐Benzocyclobutenes and CO by Merging Thermal and Metal‐Catalyzed CC Bond Cleavages

Abstract

A Rh-catalyzed benzo/[7+1] cycloaddition of cyclopropyl-benzocyclobutenes (CP-BCBs) and CO to benzocyclooctenones has been developed. In this reaction, CP-BCB acts as a benzo/7-C synthon and the reaction involves two C-C bond cleavages: a thermal electrocyclic ring-opening of the four-membered ring in CP-BCB and a Rh-catalyzed C-C cleavage of the cyclopropane ring.