Rh(III)-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of (Hetero)arenes with 2-Carboxyl Allylic Alcohols.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of (hetero)arenes and redox-neutral coupling with 2-carboxyl allylic alcohols has been realized for the construction of β-aryl ketones. This reaction occurred efficiently at a relatively low catalyst loading via initial dehydrogenative alkylation to give a β-keto carboxylic acid, followed by decarboxylation.