Rhodium-Catalyzed Pyridine N-Oxide Assisted Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction via C(O)–C Bond Activation

A rhodium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction via C(O)-C bond activation to form 2-benzoylpyridine N-oxide derivatives is reported. Both the C(O)–C(sp2) and C(O)–C(sp3) bond could be activated during the reaction with yields up to 92%. The N-oxide moiety could be employed as a traceless directing group, leading to free pyridine ketones.