Direct coupling of arenes and iodoarenes catalyzed by a rhodium complex with a strongly π-accepting phosphite ligand

A new rhodium-based catalytic system for the direct C–H coupling of arenes and iodoarenes that shows high activity with reasonably broad scope was developed. Under the catalytic influence of RhCl(CO){P[OCH(CF3)2]3}2 and Ag2CO3, the direct C–H arylation of heteroarenes and arenes took place with iodoarenes to afford a range of biaryls in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity. Thiophenes, furans, pyrroles, indoles, and alkoxybenzenes are applicable to this arylation protocol.