Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral C-H Alkylation of Arylamides with Unactivated Olefins.

A Ru(II)-catalyzed weak chelating group-aided ortho-C-H alkylation of arylamides with unactivated olefins in a redox-neutral fashion has been demonstrated. The present alkylation reaction was well-suited for various substituted arylamides and unactivated aliphatic alkenes. In this alkylation reaction, pivalic acid plays dual role in which it delivers the proton source in a protonation step and the corresponding acetate moiety deprotonates the ortho-C-H bond of the arylamides.