Access to Substituted Propenoic Acids via Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Allylation of (Hetero)Arenes with Methyleneoxetanones

An efficient synthesis of disubstituted acrylic acids has been realized via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of (hetero)arenes and coupling with four-membered methyleneoxetanones under redox-neutral conditions. In most cases, the reactions are silver-free, and the products are exclusively E-selective with a broad substrate scope. The transformation proceeds via ortho C-H activation followed by selective olefin insertion and beta-oxygen elimination.