Rhodium-Catalyzed β-Selective Oxidative Heck-Type Coupling of Vinyl Acetate via C-H Activation.

An efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed direct ortho-C-H olefination of acetanilides with vinyl acetate was developed. This protocol provides a straightforward pathway to a series of (E)-2-acetamidostyryl acetates, giving access to indole derivatives following a simple hydrolysis/cyclization process.