Rhodium-catalyzed ortho-C–H alkylation of benzaldehydes with maleimides free of transient directing groups

Abstract

A simple rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition of C–H bonds to maleimides directed by a weakly coordinating aldehyde group was developed as a facile protocol to synthesize ortho-alkylated benzaldehydes in moderate to excellent yields (up to 90% yield). This protocol features operational simplicity and broad substrate scope, and requires no transient directing group.