Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative C-H Olefination of Unsaturated Acrylamides with Unactivated Olefins.

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cross-coupling of acrylamides with unactivated alkenes via vinylic C-H activation has been developed. The present cross-coupling reaction was examined with a variety of differently functionalized acrylamides and unactivated olefins. In these reactions, highly valuable amide-functionalized butadienes were prepared in good to excellent yields. This protocol was also compatible with Weinreb amides. A possible reaction mechanism involving the chelation-assisted vinylic C-H activation via a carboxylate-assisted deprotonation pathway is proposed.