Rhodium(II) catalysed three-component coupling: a novel reaction of in situ generated iodonium ylides

Cyclic ethers are cleaved in the presence of nitromethane, a base, a hypervalent iodine compound and a Rh(II) catalyst to give nitromethoxy acetates in up to 71% isolated yields. The reaction is a three-component coupling of an ether with a nitromethane derived carbenoid and a carboxylate group originating from the hypervalent iodine compound.