Synthesis of Benzo-Fused Cyclic Compounds via Rhodium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids with Alkynes

Abstract

The decarboxylative coupling of diversely substituted benzoic acids with internal alkynes proceeds smoothly in the presence of a [RhCl(cod)]2/1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-1,3-cyclopentadiene catalyst system to selectively produce highly substituted naphthalene derivatives. The catalyst system is applicable to constructing anthracene and benzo\xad[c]thiophene frameworks through reactions of naphthoic and thiophene-2-carboxylic acids, respectively.