PMes3-Promoted Ruthenium-Catalyzed Meta C-H Nitration of 6-Arylpurines.

To address the challenge of meta nitration of 6-arylpurine substrates, a versatile ruthenium catalyzed meta C-H nitration is developed. The use of a sterically hindered phosphine ligand is crucial for the catalytic efficiency, and a broad class of 6-arylpurines and nucleosides were found suitable for this process providing corresponding exclusively meta nitrated products in good yields.