Rhodium-Catalyzed Pyridine N-Oxide Assisted Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction via C(O)-C Bond Activation.

A rhodium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction via C(O)-C bond activation to form 2-benzoylpyridine N-oxide derivatives is reported. Both the C(O)-C(sp2) and C(O)-C(sp3) bond could be activated during the reaction with yields up to 92%. The N-oxide moiety could be employed as a traceless directing group, leading to free pyridine ketones.