Rhodium(II)-catalyzed multicomponent assembly of α,α,α-trisubstituted esters via formal insertion of O–C(sp3)–C(sp2) into C–C bonds

Abstract

The direct cleavage of C(CO)−C single bonds is usually restricted to strained ketone substrates or to chelating assistance. Here, the authors show a rhodium(II)-catalyzed three-component reaction of 1,3-diones, diazoesters, and DMF, leading to an unusual formal insertion of O–C(sp3)–C(sp2) into unstrained C(CO)–C bonds.