Construction of unsymmetrical heterobiaryls via the Cp*Rh(iii)-catalysed C–H/C–H coupling of heteroarenes†
Abstract
Herein, a concise method for the Rh(III)-catalyzed, directing-group-assisted C–H/C–H cross-coupling of N-heterocycles (quinolines, indolines, indoles, pyridines, pyrimidines, pyrazoles) with other heteroarenes (benzoxazoles, benzofurans, and thiophenes) is disclosed for the synthesis of unsymmetrical heterobiaryl compounds in good to excellent yields. A plausible catalytic cycle has been delineated based on experimental and computational mechanistic studies.