Ru(H)2(CO)(PPh3)3, have been found to catalyze the addition of ortho C–H bonds of aromatic ketones to olefins with a high degree of efficiency and selectivity. 2′-Methylacetophenone reacts with various types of terminal olefins to give 1 : 1 coupling products in good to excellent yields. The C–C bond formation takes place exclusively at the terminal carbon atom of olefins except for styrene which affords a mixture
Room-Temperature Regioselective C−H/Olefin Coupling of Aromatic Ketones Using an Activated Ruthenium Catalyst with a Carbonyl Ligand and Structural Elucidation of Key Intermediates
°C for 1-1.5 h afforded an activated ruthenium catalyst, Ru(o-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(H)(CO)(PPh(3))(2), as a mixture of four geometric isomers. The activated complex showed high catalytic activity for C-H/olefin coupling, and the reaction of 2'-methylacetophenone with trimethylvinylsilane at room temperature for 48 h gave the corresponding ortho-alkylation product in 99% isolated yield. The activated catalyst