[4+2] or [4+1] Annulation: Changing the Reaction Pathway of a Rhodium‐Catalyzed Process by Tuning the Cp Ligand

Abstract

Abstract A change in reaction pathway was achieved for the first time by tuning the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand used for the rhodium‐catalyzed cyclization of benzamides with conjugated enynones. Depending on the Cp ligand, the reaction pathway switched between [4+2] and [4+1] annulation. Electronic effects turned out to be crucial for the product distribution. The dichotomy was attributed to the alteration of the Lewis acidity of the resultant Cp‐bound rhodium species.