Ruthenium-Catalyzed Isomerization of ortho-Silylanilines to Their para Isomers.

The catalytic ortho to para transposition of a silyl group in aniline derivatives is described. [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2/BINAP in conjunction with a Cu(OAc)2 additive serves as a potent catalytic system. This method is also applicable to the isomerization of 2-silylpyrrole derivatives to the corresponding 3-silyl isomers.