Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Redox‐Neutral Coupling of <i>N</i>‐Phenoxyacetamides and Alkynes with Tunable Selectivity

Abstract

Give it a tweak: A novel oxidizing directing group was developed for a rhodium(III)-catalyzed CH functionalization of N-phenoxyacetamides with alkynes. A small change in the reaction conditions leads to either ortho-hydroxyphenyl-substituted enamides or cyclization to deliver benzofurans with high selectivity (see scheme; Cp*=C5 Me5 ).