Rh(III)-catalyzed dehydrogenative alkylation of (hetero)arenes with allylic alcohols, allowing aldol condensation to indenes

Efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of different classes of (hetero)arenes such as 2-phenylpyridine, indoles, aryl ketones and acetanilide and their dehydrogenative cross-coupling with allylic alcohols are described. Several important skeletons such as β-aryl aldehydes and ketones, 2-acetylindenes, 3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one and quinoline could be produced using this protocol.