Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H/N-H Alkyne Annulation of Nonsymmetric 2-Aryl (Benz)imidazole Derivatives: Photophysical and Mechanistic Insights

Rhodium(III) catalysis enabled C-H/N-H alkyne annulation of nonsymmetric imidazole derivatives. This study encompasses the synthesis of imidazoles from a naturally occurring quinoidal compound and their use for the preparation of rigid pi-extended imidazole derivatives with outstanding fluorescence. Our study also brings to light the photophysical aspects and the mechanism of the reaction studied via computational calculations. This method provided an efficient and versatile tool for the synthesis of fluorescent compounds with a wide range of chemical and biological applications.

Automated summary

Rhodium(III) catalysis facilitated the C-H/N-H alkyne annulation of nonsymmetric imidazole derivatives, leading to the synthesis of rigid pi-extended imidazole derivatives with outstanding fluorescence. The study also revealed the photophysical aspects and reaction mechanism through computational calculations, providing an efficient and versatile tool for the synthesis of fluorescent compounds with a wide range of chemical and biological applications.