Base-Promoted Carbon−Hydrogen Bond Activation of Alkanes with Rhodium(III) Porphyrin Complexes

Base-promoted carbon−hydrogen bond activation of alkanes was achieved in the reactions of alkanes with rhodium(III) porphyrin chlorides (Rh(por)Cl) at 120 °C to give rhodium porphyrin alkyls in moderate yields. This carbon−hydrogen activation (CHA) of alkane provided a facile synthesis of Rh(por)R. Mechanistic investigation of CHA suggested that Rh(por)H and [Rh(por)]2 were key intermediates for the CHA step.