Rhodium-catalysed -alkynylation of nitroarenes.

The -alkynylation of nitro-(hetero)arenes takes place in the presence of a Rh(iii) catalyst to deliver a wide variety of alkynylated nitroarenes regioselectively. These interesting products could be further derivatized by selective reduction of the nitro group or palladium-catalysed couplings. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies demonstrate that the reaction proceeds a turnover-limiting electrophilic C-H metalation to the strongly electron-withdrawing nitro group.