Construction of Highly Functionalized Xanthones via Rh-Catalyzed Cascade C–H Activation/<i>O</i>‑Annulation

A facile and efficient strategy for obtaining functionalized and multihydroxylated xanthones via Rh catalysis under redox-neutral conditions is developed. Diverse salicylaldehydes bearing heterocycles, aromatics, and fused aromatics can be rapidly coupled with 1,4-benzoquinones or 1,4-hydroquinones to afford valuable xanthones via cascade C–H/O–H functionalization and annulation. This protocol provides a rapid synthetic approach to obtain biologically active materials through late-stage functionalization and prepares natural products such as subelliptenone, pruniflorone N, and ravenelin.