Rh-Catalyzed aldehydic C–H alkynylation and annulation

Novel Rh-catalyzed aldehydic C-H bond alkynylation and annulation for the in situ synthesis of chromones and aurones are described. It involves the sequential aldehyde C-H bond alkynylation of salicylaldehyde with in situ generated 1-bromoalkyne from 1,1-dibromoalkene followed by annulation. This protocol shows good functional group tolerance including aryl, alkenyl, alkyl and heteroaryl-1,1-dibromoalkenes. The steric/electronic effect was demonstrated during the base-mediated in situ cyclization of o-hydroxyynones to generate aurones.