Rhodium-Catalyzed Direct Alkenylation and Arylation of Arene C-H Bonds via Decarbonylation of Cinnamoyl Chlorides, Cinnamic Anhydrides, and Poly(aroyl) Chlorides

Efficient regioselective direct alkenylation of benzo[h]quinoline was realized with cinnamoyl chlorides as the coupling partners via decarbonylation of the chlorides and C-H bond activation by means of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) as the catalyst in refluxing o-oxlene under phosphine-free conditions. For 2-phenylpridine, [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) or [Rh(COD)Cl](2) efficiently promoted its direct alkenylation with cinnamic anhydrides. Polyarenes were synthesized from [Rh(COD)Cl](2)-catalyzed decarbonylative poly(arylation) of isophthaloyl dichloride, terephthaloyl dichloride, or benzene-1,3,5,-tricarbonyl chloride with benzo[h] quinoline.