Rhodium-catalyzed coupling of sodium tetraphenylborate with acid anhydrides in the presence or absence of norbornene

Treatment of sodium tetraphenylborate with aliphatic or aromatic acid anhydrides in the presence of a rhodium catalyst gives the corresponding alkyl (or aryl) phenyl ketones in good yields. In the presence of norbornene, tandem three-component coupling products, 2-acyl-3-phenylnorbornanes are obtained.