Rhodium(III)-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of flavonoids from salicylaldehydes and sulfoxonium ylides

Abstract

Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of salicylaldehyde followed by an insertion reaction with sulfoxonium ylides and cyclization is applied to the synthesis of flavonoids. This one-pot strategy exhibits good functional group tolerance and gives flavones in moderate-to-good yields.