Unique Effect of Coordination of an Alkene Moiety in Products on Ruthenium-Catalyzed Chemoselective C-H Alkenylation

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.