Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed directed C–H naphthylation of aryl esters with 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes†

A regioselective rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H bond naphthylation of weak-coordinating aryl esters with bicyclic olefin compounds has been demonstrated. This present protocol is compatible with a variety of aryl esters as well as bicyclic olefins. The methodology produced highly valuable ester-functionalized 2-naphthylated products in good to excellent yields. A feasible reaction mechanism involving directing group assisted C–H activation was proposed and supported by competitive experiments and deuterium labelling studies.