Electrochemically enabled rhodium-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulations of arenes with alkynes

Abstract

Herein, the electrochemically driven, Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective annulations of arenes with alkynes have been established. The strategy combined by rhodium catalyst with electricity not only avoids the need for stoichiometric amount of external oxidant, but also ensures the transformations under mild and green conditions , which enables a broad functional group compatibility with a variety of substrates including drugs and pharmaceutical motifs. Moreover, the electrolysis reaction is operationally simple by employing the undivided cell, and proceeds efficiently in an aqueous solution under an air atmosphere.