Selective annulation of benzamides with internal alkynes catalyzed by an electron-deficient rhodium catalyst

Abstract An electron-deficient [CpERhCl2]2 catalyzed annulation of N-pentafluorophenylbenzamides with internal alkynes was successfully established under mild reaction conditions, with the assistance of Lewis acid silver salt. Particularly, electron-deficient benzamide substrates were smoothly transformed into the desired products in this catalytic system. The catalytic system showed a broad tolerance for different substituents on the aromatic rings or aryl, alkyl-substituted alkynes