Formal Gold- and Rhodium-Catalyzed Regiodivergent C-H Alkynylation of 2-Pyridones

Formal regiodivergent C-H alkynylation of 2-pyridones bearing different N-substituents has been realized under Au(I) and Rh(III) catalysis using a hypervalent iodine alkyne reagent. When catalyzed by Au(I), the alkynylation occurred at the most electron-rich 5-position via an electrophilic alkynylation pathway. The selectivity was switched to the 6-position under assistance of an N-chelation group when a Rh(III) catalyst was employed. A rhodacylic complex has been isolated as a key intermediate.