Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C–H Activation/Alkylation of Diazabicyclic Olefins with Aryl Ketones: Facile Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclopentenes

A facile synthesis of biologically important trans-functionalized cyclopentenes by a mild Rh(III)-catalyzed alkylation of strained ­diazabicyclic olefins with aryl ketones in the presence of ammonium ­acetate has been developed. The reaction proceeds through C–H bond activation of the aryl ketone groups by transforming them in to an ­autocleavable directing group, such as in situ-formed imine.