Controllable Rh(III)-Catalyzed Annulation between Salicylaldehydes and Diazo Compounds: Divergent Synthesis of Chromones and Benzofurans

A Rh(III)-catalyzed annulation between salicylaldehydes and diazo compounds with controllable chemoselectivity is described. AgNTf2 favored benzofurans via a tandem C–H activation/decarbonylation/annulation process, while AcOH led to chromones through a C–H activation/annulation pathway. The reaction exhibited good functional group tolerance and scalability. Moreover, only a single regioisomer of benzofuran was obtained due to the in situ decarbonylation orientation effect.