Cp*Rh(III)-Catalyzed C8 C−H Alkylation of Quinoline N-Oxides with Diazo Meldrum's Acid

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed, site-selective, C−H alkylation of quinoline N-oxides at C8 using bench-stable and commercially available diazo Meldrum's acid is reported. This straightforward protocol employs a widely available catalyst and enables the synthesis of a variety of 8-quinolinylacetic acid esters on gram scale without necessitating the preparation and use of an excess of air-sensitive organometallic reagents.