Rhodium-catalyzed direct ortho C–H olefination of phenol derivatives

Cationic rhodium complex-catalyzed olefination of phenol derivatives for the direct introduction of an α,β-unsaturated ester appendage is described. In addition, deuterium labelling and kinetic isotope effect studies were performed to probe the reaction mechanism.

Chao Feng and Teck-Peng Loh 

Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 10458-10460