Cobalt(III)- and Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Amidation and Synthesis of 4-Quinolones: C-H Activation Assisted by Weakly Coordinating and Functionalizable Enaminone.

Cobalt(III) and rhodium(III) catalysts exhibited complementary scope in C-H amidation of aryl enaminones. The amidation reactions proceeded with broad scope under the assistance of a weakly coordinating and bifunctional enaminone directing group. The electrophilicity of the enaminone group can be further utilized in subsequent hydrolysis-cyclization reactions to afford NH 4-quinolones in telescoping reactions.