Rhodium(III)-catalyzed oxidative alkenylation of 1,3-dithiane-protected arenecarbaldehydes via regioselective C-H bond cleavage.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed direct alkenylation of 2-aryl-1,3-dithiane derivatives with alkenes has been developed. The 1,3-dithiane group can serve as an effective directing group for the exclusively monoselective alkenylation under mild oxidative conditions. The directing group is readily removable after the coupling event.