Rhodium(I)-catalysed alkylation of 2-vinylpyridines with alkenes as a result of C-H bond activation

2-Vinylpyridines undergo regioselective B-alkylation with alkenes in the presence of a rhodium(I) complex as a catalyst to give products resulting from an anti-Markownikoff reaction, These results show the feasibility of alkylation of an alkenic position as a result of C-H bond activation, 2(Prop-1-en-2-yl)pyridine 1 and 1-phenyl-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylene 15 react with linear terminal alkenes to give the corresponding alkylated products in high yields, Cyclic alkenes, allyl alcohol, but-3-en-1-ol and methyl vinyl ketone, however, fail to react with 1, Pent-2-ene gives the linear alkylated product in low yield, 6-Methyl-2-vinylpyridine 24 and 2-vinylpyridine 32 give the alkylated products in low yield together with their dimeric products, The alkenic C-H bond of 2-(cyclohex-1-enyl)pyridine 36 has been regioselectively alkylated, 2-(Cydohex-1-enyl)pyridine 36 with alkenes in the presence of the Rh-I catalyst undergoes regiospecific alkylation at the alkenic position.