The ruthenium-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkynes with benzamides proceeds regio- and stereoselectively through a directed C–H bond cleavage. Preliminary mechanistic investigations indicate that the reaction involves amide-directed ortho-metalation, carbometalation of alkyne, and protonolysis. Similarly, phenylazoles also add to alkynes regioselectively.
Amide-Directed Alkenylation of sp<sup>2</sup> C−H Bonds Catalyzed by a Cationic Rh(I)/BIPHEP Complex Under Mild Conditions: Dramatic Rate Acceleration by a 1-Pyrrolidinecarbonyl Group
A cationic rhodium(I)/BIPHEP complex catalyzes amide-directed regioselective alkenylations of olefinic or aromatic sp(2) C-H bonds in good yields under mild reaction conditions. The use of a 1-pyrrolidinecarbonyl group as a directing group dramatically accelerates the reaction.
Regioselective C–H Bond Cleavage/Alkyne Insertion under Ruthenium Catalysis
The ruthenium-catalyzed coupling reactions of benzamides with alkynes in the presence of acetic acid as a promoter smoothly proceeded regio- and stereoselectively through a directed C-H bond cleavage to produce the corresponding ortho-alkenylated products. Phenylpyrazoles and related substrates also underwent a similar coupling to give dialkenylated products selectively. Several competitive experiments were performed to obtain mechanistic insight into both the mono- and dialkenylation reactions.