Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkylation of Aromatic Ketones with Allylic Alcohols and α,β-Unsaturated Ketones

The direct transition-metal-catalyzed addition of C-H bonds to unsaturated C=X (X=C, O, and N) bonds via C-H bond activation has been recognized as a powerful tool for the construction of C-C bonds (in terms of atom and step economy). Herein, the direct rhodium-catalyzed C-H bond addition of aromatic ketones to allylic alcohols and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones that affords beta-aryl carbonyl compounds is described, in which a ketone carbonyl acts as a weakly coordinating directing group. It was found that the type of alkyl in aromatic ketones is crucial for the success of the reaction. This transformation provides a convenient and efficient methodology for the synthesis of 2-alkyl aromatic ketones in moderate-to-excellent yields.