Switching from meta- to ortho-Selectivity by a Cyclometalated Ruthenium Catalyst

Abstract

Catalyst-controlled site selectivity in C−H functionalization reactions is a long-standing challenge. In this issue of Chem, Larrosa and co-workers employ a cyclometalated ruthenium catalyst (RuBnN) to reverse the conventional meta-selectivity to the unprecedented ortho-selectivity in the C(sp2)−H alkylation of arenes with secondary alkyl halides.