Rh-catalyzed chemodivergent [4+1]-annulation/allylation of sulfoxonium ylides with α-methylene-β-lactones: access to α-indanonyl/α-benzyl acrylates

A Rh-catalyzed chemodivergent [4+1]-annulation and allylation of benzoyl sulfoxonium ylides with α-methylene-β-lactones has been achieved to afford α-indanonyl/α-benzyl acrylates. The sequential C-H functionalization and C-C bond formation utilizing the lactones <i>via</i> β-O elimination, substrate scope, functional group tolerance and synthetic scope are the important practical features.