C−H hydroxylation of aryl acetamides and alkyl phenylacetyl esters was accomplished via challenging distal weak O‐coordination by versatile ruthenium(II/IV) catalysis. The ruthenium(II)‐catalyzedC−H oxygenation of aryl acetamides proceeded throughC−Hactivation, ruthenium(II/IV) oxidation and reductive elimination, thus providing step‐economical access to valuable phenols. The p‐cymene‐ruthenium(II/IV)