Rhodium-Catalyzed Arene Alkenylation: Selectivity and Reaction Mechanism as a Function of In Situ Oxidant Identity

Rhodium catalyzed arene alkenylation reactions with arenes and olefins using dioxygen as the direct oxidant (e.g., ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 11519), Cu(II) carboxylates (e.g., Science 2015, 348, 421; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 5474) or Fe(III) carboxylate clusters (e.g., ACS Catal. 2024, 14, 10295), in the presence or absence of dioxygen, have been reported. These processes involve heating catalyst precursor [(η²-C₂H₄)₂Rh(μ-OAc)]₂, olefin, arene, and oxidant at temperatures between 120 and 200 °C. Herein, we report comparative studies of Rh-catalyzed arene alkenylation as a function of oxidant identity. This work includes comparisons of catalysis using Cu(II) carboxylates in the presence and absence of dioxygen, catalysis with only dioxygen as the oxidant, and Fe(III) carboxylates in the presence and absence of dioxygen. We report studies of catalysis with each oxidant including reagent concentration dependencies and kinetic isotope effect experiments using C₆H₆ or C₆D₆ and protio- or deutero carboxylic acid. Additionally, we probe ortho/meta/para regioselectivity for reactions of ethylene with monosubstituted arenes and Markovnikov/anti-Markovnikov selectivity with monosubstituted olefins. These studies indicate that the variation of oxidant identity impacts catalyst speciation, the reaction mechanism, and the reaction rate. Consequently, distinct Markovnikov/anti-Markovnikov and ortho/meta/para selectivities are observed for catalysis with each oxidant.