Table 1.

Reaction Parameters for Annulation to 10aaa^a

entry	variation	Yield %b
1	none	73 (74)c
2	0.1 mmol 5a + 2 equiv 8a +1.5 equiv 9a	55
3	[Cp*RliCl2]2 (5%)	65
4	no Rh	0
5	PivOH (1 equiv)	71
6	PivOH (0.5 equiv)	68
7	no PivOH	48
8	AcOH instead of PivOH	57
9	no NaOAc	60
10	150 °C	73
11	TFE as solvent	70
12	EtOH as solvent	10
13	dioxane as solvent	4
14	0.4 M	61
15	0.1 M	74
16	[Cp*Rh(MeCN)3](SbF6)2 (5%)	72
17	[Cp*Rh(MeCN)3](SbF6)2(2%), 150 °C	65
18	no sieves	68
19	conventional heating, 100 °C, 20 h	70 (72%)c
20	[Cp*Co(MeCN)3](SbF6)2 (10%)	0
21	[Cp*IrCl2]2 (5%) and AgSbF6 (20%)	72

^aConditions: 8a (0.10 mmol), 5a (0.20 mmol), 9a (0.15 mmol).

^bYields determined by ¹H NMR integration relative to 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene as external standard.

^cIsolated yield at 0.30 mmol scale of limiting reagent 8a.