Double-chelation-assisted Rh-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehydes and 1,4-penta- or 1,5-hexadienes.

Intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehydes 1, 26-40 and 1,4-penta- or 1,5-hexadienes 4-13 by Rh-catalyst proceeded under mild reaction conditions to give a mixture of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products 14-25, 41-55, and 57-60. In the hydroacylation reaction, chelation of both salicylaldehyde and diene to the Rh-complex plays a crucial role. The ratio of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products could be regulated by the addition of salicylic acid or amines.

Double-chelation-assisted Rh-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation.

[reaction: see text] Rh-Catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehydes and 1,5-hexadienes proceeded under remarkably mild reaction conditions to afford a mixture of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products in good yields. The experiments using deuterated salicylaldehyde-d revealed that "double chelation" of salicylaldehyde and 1,5-hexadiene to Rh-complex played vital roles in the catalytic cycle of intermolecular hydroacylation.