Rhodium-Catalyzed C–O Bond Alkynylation of Aryl Carbamates with Propargyl Alcohols

The rhodium-catalyzed alkynylation of aryl carbamates with propargyl alcohols is described. This methodology can provide aryl acetylenes from aryl carbamates via C–O bond activation. The use of propargyl alcohols as alkynylating agents allows the use of a variety of functional groups that are incompatible with organometallic nucleophiles. This reaction also serves to broaden the utility of a carbamate moiety as a convertible ortho directing group.