Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Arylation of Diverse Aryl Carboxylic Acids with Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides

Ruthenium ligated to tricyclohexylphosphine or di-tert-butylbipyridine catalyzes the arylation of carboxylic acids with diverse aryl halides (iodide, bromide, and triflate; aryl and heteroaryl). In addition, arylations with 2-iodophenol formed benzochromenones, carboxylate was shown to be a stronger donor than an amide, and the arylation of a pyridine carboxylate was demonstrated. Stoichiometric studies demonstrated that the added ligand is required for reaction with the electrophile but not the C-H bond.