Diverse Strategies toward Indenol and Fulvene Derivatives: Rh-Catalyzed C-H Activation of Aryl Ketones Followed by Coupling with Internal Alkynes

The synthesis of indenols and fulvenes was achieved through Rh-catalyzed C-H bond activation of simple and diverse aryl ketone derivatives and subsequent coupling with internal alkynes. The process was found to involve either an alpha or gamma dehydration step, depending on the substrate disposition and representing diverse pathways toward functionalized fulvenes.