Rhodium-catalyzed Synthesis of 1-Arylisoquinoline Derivatives through Annulative Coupling of 3-Aryl-1,2-benzisoxazoles and Alkynes

Direct annulative coupling of 3-aryl-1,2-benzisoxazoles and alkynes efficiently proceeds in the presence of a Cp*Rh(III) catalyst to produce 2-(1-isoquinolinyl)phenols of interest in medicinal chemistry as well as materials chemistry. The products may also be useful precursors of quinoline-based bidentate ligands.