A Mild Rhodium Catalyzed Direct Synthesis of Quinolones from Pyridones: Application in the Detection of Nitroaromatics.

A rhodium catalyzed direct regioselective oxidative annulation by double C-H activation is described to synthesize highly substituted quinolones from pyridones. The reaction proceeds at mild conditions with broad scope and wide functional group tolerance. These novel quinolones were explored to recognize nitroaromatic compounds.