Rh-Catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehyde and alkenylnitriles proceeded at room temperature to give a mixture of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products; preferentially the normal-products were obtained. Addition of CH3CN and NaOAc is capable of accelerating the Rh-catalyzed hydroacylation of monoolefins to produce the normal-hydroacylated products under mild reaction conditions.
