Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Arylation of Dimethyl Itaconate: Facile Access to Substituted Benzylidenesuccinates

Abstract The rhodium(III)‐catalyzed arylation of dimethyl itaconate with arylboronic acids proceeds smoothly under mild conditions to produce benzylidenesuccinates. The present reaction provides a simple synthesis route to benzylidenesuccinates, which are of interest due to their biological activities, from readily available substrates.