Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C-H/C-C activation sequence: vinylcyclopropanes as versatile synthons in direct C-H allylation reactionsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental procedures, structural proofs, spectral data, mechanism study are provided. See DOI: 10.1039/c4cc07839j

Succession of C-H activation and C-C activation was achieved by using a single rhodium( iii ) catalyst. Vinylcyclopropanes were used as versatile coupling partners. Mechanistic studies suggest that the olefin insertion step is rate-determining and a facile β-carbon elimination is involved, which represents a novel ring opening mode of vinylcyclopropanes. Succession of C-H activation and C-C activation was achieved by using a single rhodium( iii ) catalyst.