Rhodium-Catalyzed Site-Selective ortho-C-H Activation: Enone Carbonyl Directed Hydroarylation of Maleimides.

Enone carbonyl directed 1,4-addition of ortho-C-H bond in chalcones to maleimides was developed under the catalysis of Rh(III). This reaction furnished a variety of chalcone-based pharmacologically useful 3-arylated succinimide derivatives in good yields with excellent selectivity.