Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Ortho-Alkenylation of Anilines Directed by a Removable Boc-Protecting Group.

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed ortho-alkenylation of N-Boc-anilines with alkenes such as acrylate ester and styrene proceeds smoothly through C-H bond cleavage. Obtained o-alkenylanilines can be readily transformed to nitrogen-containing fused heteroaromatic compounds including indoles and quinolines.