Rh/O₂-Catalyzed C8 Olefination of Quinoline N-Oxides with Activated and Unactivated Olefins

The rhodium/O₂ system-catalyzed distal C(sp²)-H olefination of quinoline N-oxides is developed. Molecular oxygen has been explored as an economic and clean oxidant, an alternative to inorganic oxidants. A wide substrate scope with respect to quinoline N-oxides and olefins (activated acrylates and styrenes; unactivated aliphatic olefins) demonstrates the robustness of the developed catalytic method. Interestingly, 2-substituted quinoline N-oxides also afforded good yields of the corresponding C8-olefinated products. Kinetic isotope studies and deuterium-labeling experiments have been performed to understand the preliminary mechanistic pathway. The applicability of the developed method is demonstrated by utilizing natural product-derived substrates and by converting the C8-olefinated quinoline N-oxides into various other useful molecules.