Rhodium-Catalyzed Electrooxidative C-H Olefination of Benzamides.

Metal-catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H olefinations have emerged as powerful tools for the construction of functionalized alkenes. Herein, we describe the rhoda-electrocatalyzed C-H activation/alkenylation of arenes. The olefinations of challenging electron-poor benzamides were thus accomplished in a fully dehydrogenative fashion under electrochemical conditions, avoiding stoichiometric chemical oxidants, and with H as the only byproduct. This versatile alkenylation reaction also features broad substrate scope and used electricity as a green oxidant.