Abstract
The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex [(eta(6)-C(6)H(6))(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](+)BF(4) (-) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the intermolecular olefination reaction of arylketones with cycloalkenes. The preliminary mechanistic analysis revealed that electrophilic ruthenium-vinyl complex is the key species for mediating both vinyl C-H bond activation and the dehydrative olefination steps of the coupling reaction.