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.
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.