Ruthenium-catalyzed alkenylation of 2'-alkoxyacetophenones with alkenylboronates provides ortho C-H alkenylation products without sacrificing an ether functional group at the other ortho position. Both excellent chemoselectivity and high product yields are achieved with an aryloxo ruthenium complex. The effective suppression of the C-O bond cleavage was attained by coordination of the alkenyl moiety in the C-H alkenylation product to the ruthenium center.
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Monoalkenylation of Aromatic Ketones by Cleavage of Carbon-Heteroatom Bonds with Unconventional Chemoselectivity
Ruthenium‐catalyzed selective monoalkenylation of ortho CO or CN bonds of aromatic ketones was achieved. The reaction allowed the direct comparison of the relative reactivities of the cleavage of different carbon‐heteroatom bonds, thus suggesting an unconventional chemoselectivity, where smaller, more‐electron‐donating groups are more easily cleaved. Selective monofunctionalization of CO bonds in