Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Aldehyde C−H Activation and Functionalization with Dioxazolones: An Entry to Imide Synthesis

A rhodium(III)‐based catalytic system has been used to develop a C−H bond activation of benzaldehyde derivatives and subsequent functionalization with dioxazolones in order to afford imides. The importance of the nature of the directing group to perform selectively the aldehydic C−H bond activation has been highlighted. The scope investigation showed that this transformation could be applied to various dioxazolones and many benzaldehyde derivatives as well as an acrolein derivative. Derivatization reactions of the imide products demonstrated the synthetic utility of this rhodium‐catalyzed aldehydic C−H amidation.