Rhodium- and iridium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of benzoic acids with alkynes and alkenes

Abstract

The oxidative coupling of benzoic acids with alkynes and alkenes effectively proceeds in the presence of a Rh catalyst and an appropriate oxidant to produce the corresponding isocoumarin and phthalide derivatives, respectively. Interestingly, by using an Ir catalyst in place of Rh, the acids and alkynes undergo 1:2 coupling accompanied by decarboxylation to afford naphthalene derivatives exclusively. © 2008 IUPAC.