Enolate S N Ar of unactivated arenes via [(η 6 -arene)RuCp] + intermediates.

A series of complexes of the general formula [(η 6 -arene)RuCp][PF 6 ] (where arene = aryl halides or nitroarenes) were synthesised and the arene ring was found to be reactive towards an intermolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S N Ar) reaction with a series of cyclic 1,3-diones. Competition experiments indicated that leaving group ability of the aryl halides and nitroarenes went in the order of F ≫ NO 2 > Cl > Br. Following S N Ar, the arene rings were liberated quantitatively via a rapid photolysis reaction (<15 min).