One-Pot Synthesis of Highly Substituted Polyheteroaromatic Compounds by Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Multiple C-H Activation and Annulation

A new method for the synthesis of highly substituted naphthyridine-based polyheteroaromatic compounds in high yields proceeds through rhodium(III)-catalyzed multiple CH bond cleavage and CC and CN bond formation in a one-pot process. Such highly substituted polyheteroaromatic compounds have attracted much attention because of their unique -conjugation, which make them suitable materials for organic semiconductors and luminescent materials. Furthermore, a possible mechanism, which involves multiple chelation-assisted ortho CH activation, alkyne insertion, and reductive elimination, is proposed for this transformation.