Rhodium-catalyzed selective C-H functionalization of NNN tridentate chelating compounds via a rollover pathway

Reported herein is the first example of the Rh(NHC)-catalyzed selective bis C-H alkylation of NNN tridentate chelating compounds in reaction with alkenes. The observed excellent site-selectivity can readily be explained by the postulated rollover pathway in the C-H bond activation step. The reaction is highly facile affording bis-alkylated tridentate products in high yields over a broad range of versatile heteroarene substrates and alkene reactants including ethylene gas, thus enabling its applications to be feasible in coordination and synthetic chemistry.