RhI-Catalyzed Intramolecular Carbonylative C−H/C−I Coupling of 2-Iodobiphenyls Using Furfural as a Carbonyl Source

Abstract

Synthesis of fluoren-9-ones by a Rh-catalyzed intramolecular C−H/C−I carbonylative coupling of 2-iodobiphenyls using furfural as a carbonyl source is presented. The findings indicate that the rate-determining step is not a C−H bond cleavage but, rather, the oxidative addition of the C−I bond to a RhI center.