Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C-H Acylmethylation between (Hetero)arenes and α-Cl Ketones/Sulfoxonium Ylides.

The first ruthenium(II)-catalyzed (hetero)arene C-H activation coupling with α-Cl ketones/sulfoxonium ylides to efficiently generate acylmethylated (hetero)arenes has been described. Compared with the previous studies, this transformation constitutes the first coupling of α-Cl ketones with arenes under low-cost Ru(II) complex catalysis. Meanwhile, sulfoxonium ylides functioning as the surrogates of α-Cl ketones were also used to facilitate acylmethylation of (hetero)arenes. This strategy features high efficiency, wide substrate tolerance, easily accessible starting materials, and mild reaction conditions.