Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Cyclization of Benzamides and Diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-ones for Synthesis of Lactones.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/cyclization of benzamides and diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-ones for synthesis of lactones has been developed. In the presence of Rh(III) catalysis, the benzamides would form rhodacycle species and could be trapped by diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-ones for arylation, and the following intramolecular lactonization would rapidly furnish the products. Thus, the diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-ones were first revealed as a lactonization component in Rh(III)-catalysis, while the kinetic isotope effect study was conducted and a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed.