Chlorobis(cyclooctene)rhodium dimer is an organorhodium compound with the formula Rh2Cl2(C8H14)4, where C8H14 is cis-cyclooctene. Sometimes abbreviated Rh2Cl2(coe)4, it is a red-brown, air-sensitive solid that is a precursor to many other organorhodium compounds and catalysts.
C-H activation is often catalyzed by chlorobis(cyclooctene)rhodium dimer as demonstrated in the synthesis of a strained bicyclic enamine.[2]
C–H bond activation Yotphan 2008
The synthesis of a mescaline analogue involves enantioselective annulation of an aryl imine via a C-H activation.[3]
The total synthesis of lithospermic acid employs "guided C-H functionalization" late stage to a highly functionalized system. The directing group, a chiral nonracemic imine, is capable of performing an intramolecular alkylation, which allows for the rhodium-catalyzed conversion of imine to the dihydrobenzofuran.[4]
Key step in synthesis of lithospermic acid
References
^Van der Ent, A.; Onderdelinden, A. L. "Chlorobis(cyclooctene)rhodium(I) and di-μ-chlorobis[bis(cryclooctene)iridium] (I) complexes" Inorganic Syntheses 1973, volume 14, pp. 92-5. doi:10.1002/9780470132456.ch18
^Ahrendt, Kateri A.; Bergman, Robert G.; Ellman, Jonathan A. (2003-04-01). "Synthesis of a Tricyclic Mescaline Analogue by Catalytic C−H Bond Activation". Organic Letters. 5 (8): 1301–1303. doi:10.1021/ol034228d. ISSN1523-7060. PMID12688744.
^O'Malley, S. J.; Tan, K. L.; Watzke, A.; Bergman, R. G.; Ellman, J. A. (2005). "Total Synthesis of (+)-Lithospermic Acid by Asymmetric Intramolecular Alkylation via Catalytic C-H Bond Activation". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (39): 13496–13497. doi:10.1021/ja052680h. PMID16190703.