Rh(III)-Catalyzed Alkylation of 8-Methylquinolines with Oxabenzonorbornadienes

Org Lett. 2023 Apr 21;25(15):2627-2631. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c00652. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Abstract

Herein, a concise Rh(III)-catalyzed C(sp3)-H alkylation of 8-methylquinolines with oxabenzonorbornadiene scaffolds and other strained olefins has been disclosed. The retention of the oxabenzonorbornadiene skeleton, broad substrate scope, and wide-ranging functional group tolerance are the key features of the developed catalytic methodology. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction does not involve a radical pathway, and the five-membered rhodacycle is the key intermediate. This is the first report on the C(sp3)-H alkylation of 8-methylquinolines with strained oxabenzonorbornadiene scaffolds (with ring retention).