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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]