Selective annulation of benzamides with internal alkynes catalyzed by an electron-deficient rhodium catalyst

An electron-deficient [(CpRhCl2)-Rh-E](2) catalyzed annulation of N-pentafluorophenylbenzamides with internal alkynes was successfully established under mild reaction conditions, with the assistance of Lewis acid silver salt. Particularly, electron-deficient benzamide substrates were smoothly transformed into the desired products in this catalytic system. The catalytic system showed a broad tolerance for different substituents on the aromatic rings or aryl, alkyl-substituted alkynes. (C) 2021 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study established a successful electron-deficient catalyzed annulation of N-pentafluorophenylbenzamides with internal alkynes, aided by Lewis acid silver salt, exhibiting a broad tolerance for different substituents on aromatic rings or alkyl-substituted alkynes in the catalytic system.