Rh(I)-Catalyzed Alkylation of Quinolines and Pyridines via C−H Bond Activation

Abstract

The scope of heterocycle ortho-alkylation has been dramatically expanded to include pharmaceutically important pyridines and quinolines, which contain only a single nitrogen. The reactions, which are conducted at a high concentration (0.8 M), can be performed with catalyst loadings as low as 1% Rh. Substitution ortho to the heterocycle ring nitrogen is required for efficient alkylation and is consistent with the intermediacy of a Rh−carbene intermediate similar to those proposed in our earlier work.