Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C3 Arylation of 2-Aroylbenzofurans with Arylboronic Acids/Aryltrifluoroborates via Carbonyl-Directed C–H Bond Activation

Abstract

The Ru(II)-catalyzed carbonyl-directed C-H activation with (hetero)arylboron reagents has been executed for the synthesis of 2-aroyl-3-(hetero)arylbenzofurans. A hypothesis founded upon the involvement of an active carbonatoruthenium(II) complex for a coordinative insertion and the aerobic oxidation of the in situ generated Ru(0) to Ru(II), to continue the catalytic cycle, has been extended.