Enol Isomer Research Articles

Acetylacetone – 2-methoxyethanol solutions: Fourier transform infrared spectral studies

The H-bond interactions in the solutions of acetylacetone (AcAc) with 2-methoxyethanol (2-MOE) have been investigated using FTIR spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations on monomers (eight enol isomers and one keto form) and dimers of AcAc have been carried out. The results confirm that both the keto and enol forms of AcAc exist as monomers in liquid AcAc. The analysis of the carbonyl and hydroxyl bands indicates the existence of both the AcAc conformers in the solutions. The intensity of the bands due to the hydroxyl stretching and in-plane bending vibrations decreases rapidly with a decrease in 2-MOE concentration.

An AIE-active Schiff base derivative with reversible thermochromism based on two-step isomerization in the solid state

Thermoresponsive aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens, especially in the solid state, have attracted extensive attention due to their potential applications as smart materials. Herein, we report an AIE-active tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based Schiff base derivative (TPENOMe-I) that exhibits rapid and reversible thermochromism along with luminescence in the solid state. The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer-induced AIE and efficient thermochromism (rather than photochromism) are facilitated by the relatively compact crystal packing and polymorphism of TPENOMe-I, which effectively suppress cis-to-trans isomerization. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that the two-step isomerization process between the enol isomer and the cis- and twisted cis-keto isomers is responsible for the thermochromic behavior of solid-state TPENOMe-I. The chromic transitions may result from the reversible interconversion between various twisted cis-keto forms during the thermal isomerization process. Three composites containing TPENOMe-I that were simply prepared with low cost excited reversible thermochromism and were successfully demonstrated in thermochromic patterns. The findings suggest that these TPENOMe-I composites have promising applications for use in warning labels, thermochromic textiles, and thermal printing.

On the Keto‐Enol‐Tautomerism of 2‐(1‐Hydroxyethylidene)malononitrile and Its Lewis Adduct Formation with B(C6F5)3

Abstract2‐(1‐Hydroxyethylidene)malononitrile (4) is commercially sold as the keto isomer and is described in the literature as either a keto (4 b) or enol (4 a) species. Using NMR techniques and single crystal X‐ray diffraction, we were able to show that 4 exists exclusively as the enol isomer (4 a) in solution as well as in the solid state, which agrees with quantum chemical calculations. By adding one or two equivalents of the Lewis acid B(C6F5)3, the mono‐ or diadducts are formed in exergonic reactions, in which the enol form is further thermodynamically stabilized. The structure and acidity of enol 4 a and its borane adducts are discussed based on experimental and theoretical results.

ESIPT‐Active Pyrene‐imidazole Fluorophores: GSIPT, Dual Solid‐ and Solution‐State Emission plus Counter‐Intuitive Crystal Packing**

AbstractWe report a new excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)‐inspired hydroxyl (OH)‐substituted pyrene‐imidazole that promote unprecedented intramolecular proton transfer in the ground state (GSIPT). The enol and keto isomers are in equilibrium, with a high keto‐isomer component in the solid state. In conjunction with DFT calculations, the photophysical studies and crystal structure analysis shred substantial evidence for the ground state transformation. The ESIPT‐active compounds also show the rare feature of high dual solution (φf=70 %) and solid state (φf=41 %) emission characteristics and counter‐intuitive stronger intermolecular interactions in the solid state versus the ESIPT‐inactive counterparts.

Use of diformyl‐triazolo Schiff base for Zn2+ sensing and intracellular live cell imaging

A diformylphenol Schiff base of triazole‐amine, 4‐methyl‐2, 6‐bis‐[(1H‐[1,2,4] triazol‐3‐ylimino)‐methyl]‐phenol (PTR) has been synthesised and characterised by spectroscopic data (ESI‐MS, UV‐vis, FT‐IR, NMR spectra). The probe, PTR, emits at 610 nm upon excitation at 380 nm and the emission is strongly intensified on interacting with Zn2+ ion in DMSO‐water (99:1, v/v; HEPES buffer, pH, 7.2) solution even in the presence of 15 other cations (Cu2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Pd2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Al3+, Na+, K+, Ba2+, Ca2+) and the emission band has been shifted to 530 nm. The limit of detection of Zn2+, 0.30 μM is much lower than WHO recommended value (76 μM). The binding constant (Kd) is 4.2585 × 104 M−1. Selective and sensitive chemosensing behaviour of PTR to Zn2+ has been explained by switching off ESIPT quenching of the keto‐enol tautomerisation of the probe along with the chelation enhancement of fluorescence (CHEF) by binding with Zn2+. The Job's plot and NMR titration have been extended to measure the 1:1 M composition [PTR + Zn2+]. The energy calculation by the DFT computation of keto and enol isomers supports easy tautomerisation and helps ESIPT quenching by proton transfer. Intracellular Zn2+ ions in living cells of HEK293 (PBS: phosphate buffer saline; pH, 7.2) have also been identified by the probe, PTR, using fluorescence microscopic imaging technique.

Influencing Factors on Li‐ion Conductivity and Interfacial Stability of Solid Polymer Electrolytes, Exampled by Polycarbonates, Polyoxalates and Polymalonates

AbstractThe application of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) in all‐solid‐state(ASS) batteries is hindered by lower Li+‐conductivity and narrower electrochemical window. Here, three families of ester‐based F‐modified SPEs of poly‐carbonate (PCE), poly‐oxalate (POE) and poly‐malonate (PME) were investigated. The Li+‐conductivity of these SPEs prepared from pentanediol are all higher than the counterparts made of butanediol, owing to the enhanced asymmetry and flexibility. Because of stronger chelating coordination with Li+, the Li+‐conductivity of PME and POE is around 10 and 5 times of PCE. The trifluoroacetyl‐units are observed more effective than −O−CH2−CF2−CF2−CH2−O− during the in situ passivation of Li‐metal. Using trifluoroacetyl terminated POE and PCE as SPE, the interfaces with Li‐metal and high‐voltage‐cathode are stabilized simultaneously, endowing stable cycling of ASS Li/LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2(NCM622) cells. Owing to an enol isomerization of malonate, the cycling stability of Li/PME/NCM622 is deteriorated, which is recovered with the introduce of dimethyl‐group in malonate and the suppression of enol isomerization. The coordinating capability with Li+, molecular asymmetry and existing modes of elemental F, are all critical for the molecular design of SPEs.

Influencing Factors on Li-ion Conductivity and Interfacial Stability of Solid Polymer Electrolytes, Exampled by Polycarbonates, Polyoxalates and Polymalonates.

The application of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) in all-solid-state(ASS) batteries is hindered by lower Li+ -conductivity and narrower electrochemical window. Here, three families of ester-based F-modified SPEs of poly-carbonate (PCE), poly-oxalate (POE) and poly-malonate (PME) were investigated. The Li+ -conductivity of these SPEs prepared from pentanediol are all higher than the counterparts made of butanediol, owing to the enhanced asymmetry and flexibility. Because of stronger chelating coordination with Li+ , the Li+ -conductivity of PME and POE is around 10 and 5 times of PCE. The trifluoroacetyl-units are observed more effective than -O-CH2 -CF2 -CF2 -CH2 -O- during the in situ passivation of Li-metal. Using trifluoroacetyl terminated POE and PCE as SPE, the interfaces with Li-metal and high-voltage-cathode are stabilized simultaneously, endowing stable cycling of ASS Li/LiNi0.6 Co0.2 Mn0.2 O2 (NCM622) cells. Owing to an enol isomerization of malonate, the cycling stability of Li/PME/NCM622 is deteriorated, which is recovered with the introduce of dimethyl-group in malonate and the suppression of enol isomerization. The coordinating capability with Li+ , molecular asymmetry and existing modes of elemental F, are all critical for the molecular design of SPEs.

A Mechanistic Study on the Formation of Acetone (CH3COCH3), Propanal (CH3CH2CHO), Propylene Oxide (c-CH3CHOCH2) along with Their Propenol Enols (CH3CHCHOH/CH3C(OH)CH2) in Interstellar Analog Ices

Carbonyl-bearing complex organic molecules (COMs) in the interstellar medium (ISM) are of significant importance due to their role as potential precursors to biomolecules. Simple aldehydes and ketones like acetaldehyde, acetone, and propanal have been recognized as fundamental molecular building blocks and tracers of chemical processes involved in the formation of distinct COMs in molecular clouds and star-forming regions. Although previous laboratory simulation experiments and modeling established the potential formation pathways of interstellar acetaldehyde and propanal, the underlying formation routes to the simplest ketone—acetone—in the ISM are still elusive. Herein, we performed a systematic study to unravel the synthesis of acetone, its propanal and propylene oxide isomers, as well as the propenol tautomers in interstellar analog ices composed of methane and acetaldehyde along with isotopic-substitution studies to trace the reaction pathways of the reactive intermediates. Chemical processes in the ices were triggered at 5.0 K upon exposure to proxies of Galactic cosmic rays in the form of energetic electrons. The products were detected isomer-selectively via vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In our experiments, the branching ratio of acetone (CH3COCH3):propylene oxide (c-CH3CHOCH2):propanal (CH3CH2CHO) was determined to be (4.82 ± 0.05):(2.86 ± 0.13):1. The radical–radical recombination reaction leading to acetone emerged as the dominant channel. The propenols appeared only at a higher radiation dose via keto–enol tautomerization. The current study provides mechanistic information on the fundamental nonequilibrium pathways that may be responsible for the formation of acetone and its (enol) isomers inside the interstellar icy grains.

Synthesis, in vitro, in silico and DFT studies of indole curcumin derivatives as potential anticancer agents

The curcumin derivatives were synthesized for the first time using simple starting materials through a three-component reaction, yielding high purity compounds. The synthesized indole curcumin derivatives were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS spectral techniques. The anticancer property of curcumin derivatives was evaluated against three cell lines such as, Hep-2, A549 and HeLa. Interestingly, it was found that methoxy substituted indole curcumin was showed the promising anticancer activity with IC50 values of 12 µM (Hep-2), 15 µM (A549) and 4 µM (HeLa) cancer cells lines and equated with standard drugs, doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Moreover, the indole curcumin derivatives were exhibited significant anti-oxidant activity with the reduced levels of 73.41%, 81.95%, and 90.50%, respectively at 50 µg concentration. The methoxy substituted indole curcumin molecule displayed the maximum antioxidant activity, confirming that the indole curcumin has dual action capabilities. The structural characteristics of these potential compounds were explored using DFT studies. The Keto and Enol isomers of indole curcumin derivatives were compared, and energy analysis suggested that the enol isomers were more stable than the keto isomer. Molecular docking results displayed that the keto form of indole curcumin molecules were efficiently binding with GSK-3β, EGFR, and Bcr-Abl proteins, implying that they possess significant anti-cancer activity.

Counterion-Mediated Enantioconvergent Synthesis of Axially Chiral Medium Rings.

There are few enantioconvergent reactions in which racemic substrates bearing multiple stereochemical features are converted into products with high levels of diastereo- and enantiocontrol. Here, we disclose a process for the highly enantio- and diastereoselective syntheses of medium ring lactams via an intramolecular counterion-directed C-alkylation reaction. The treatment of racemic biaryl anilides that exist as a complex mixture of enantiomers and diastereoisomeric conformers by virtue of multiple axes of restricted rotation with a quinidine-derived ammonium salt under basic conditions affords medium ring lactams bearing elements of both axial and point chirality via an enolate-driven configurational relaxation process. Thermal equilibration of the syn- and anti-product diasteroisomers has demonstrated that the barriers to bowl inversion are >124 kJ mol-1. We propose that the chiral ammonium salt differentiates between a complex and rapidly equilibrating mixture of enolate and rotational isomers, ultimately leading to highly enantioselective alkylative ring closure. This dynamic and enantioconvergent process offers an operationally simple approach to the synthesis of valuable chiral medium ring lactams for which there are few catalytic and enantioselective approaches.

Bismuth(III)-catalysed hydroalkylation of styrene with acetylacetone: a DFT-Based mechanistic study

Density functional theory (DFT) has been used to investigate the mechanism of the experimentally efficient hydroalkylation of styrene with acetylacetone in the presence of a bismuth catalyst. It is shown that the mechanism is fundamentally different to that of the analogous gold-catalysed reaction, even though it leads to the same product. Whereas gold prefers to coordinate to the π-bond of the enol isomer of acetylacetone, bismuth coordinates to the two oxygens to form a chelated complex. Furthermore, the overall reaction with bismuth via the enol isomer of acetylacetone occurs with a much lower activation energy compared to the ketone isomer. In addition, several bismuth catalysts were considered and two of these were shown to have no activity. All of these results have been rationalised in terms of the strength of binding of the metal centres to the acetylacetone. The stronger the binding, the greater the acidity of a proton on acetylacetone, and thus the lower the activation energy for the protonation of styrene, which turns out to be the rate-determining step in the overall reaction. In this way, good agreement is obtained with all the experimental data.

A Pd−H/Isothiourea Cooperative Catalysis Approach to anti‐Aldol Motifs: Enantioselective α‐Alkylation of Esters with Oxyallenes**

AbstractThe biological and therapeutic significance of natural products is a powerful impetus for the development of efficient methods to facilitate their construction. Accordingly, and reflecting the prevalence of β‐oxy‐carbonyl motifs, a sophisticated arsenal of aldol‐based strategies has evolved that is contingent on the generation of single enolate isomers. Since this has the potential to compromise efficiency in reagent‐based paradigms, direct catalysis‐based solutions would be enabling. To complement the array of substrate‐based strategies, and regulate enolate geometry at the catalyst level, a direct catalytic alkylation of esters with oxyallenes has been developed. Synergizing metal hydride reactivity with Lewis base catalysis has resulted in a broad reaction scope with useful levels of stereocontrol (up to >99 % ee). Facile derivatization of these ambiphilic linchpins is demonstrated, providing access to high‐value vicinal stereocenter‐containing motifs, including 1,2‐amino alcohols.

A Pd-H/Isothiourea Cooperative Catalysis Approach to anti-Aldol Motifs: Enantioselective α-Alkylation of Esters with Oxyallenes.

The biological and therapeutic significance of natural products is a powerful impetus for the development of efficient methods to facilitate their construction. Accordingly, and reflecting the prevalence of β-oxy-carbonyl motifs, a sophisticated arsenal of aldol-based strategies has evolved that is contingent on the generation of single enolate isomers. Since this has the potential to compromise efficiency in reagent-based paradigms, direct catalysis-based solutions would be enabling. To complement the array of substrate-based strategies, and regulate enolate geometry at the catalyst level, a direct catalytic alkylation of esters with oxyallenes has been developed. Synergizing metal hydride reactivity with Lewis base catalysis has resulted in a broad reaction scope with useful levels of stereocontrol (up to >99 % ee). Facile derivatization of these ambiphilic linchpins is demonstrated, providing access to high-value vicinal stereocenter-containing motifs, including 1,2-amino alcohols.

Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics studies on the mechanistic photophysics of sunscreen oxybenzone in methanol solution.

Herein, we have employed the QM(CASPT2//CASSCF)/MM method to explore the photophysical and photochemical mechanism of oxybenzone (OB) in methanol solution. Based on the optimized minima, conical intersections and crossing points, and minimum-energy reaction paths related to excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and excited-state decay paths in the 1ππ*, 1nπ*, 3ππ*, 3nπ*, and S0 states, we have identified several feasible excited-state relaxation pathways for the initially populated S2(1ππ*) state to decay to the initial enol isomer' S0 state. The major one is the singlet-mediated and stretch-torsion coupled ESIPT pathway, in which the system first undergoes an essentially barrierless 1ππ* ESIPT process to generate the 1ππ* keto species, and finally realizes its ground state recovery through the subsequent carbonyl stretch-torsion facilitating S1 → S0 internal conversion (IC) and the reverse ground-state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) process. The minor ones are related to intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. At the S2(1ππ*) minimum, an S2(1ππ*)/S1(1nπ*)/T2(3nπ*) three-state intersection region helps the S2 system branch into the T1 state through a S2 → S1 → T1 or S2 → T2 → T1 process. Once it has reached the T1 state, the system may relax to the S0 state via direct ISC or via subsequent nearly barrierless 3ππ* ESIPT to yield the T1 keto tautomer and ISC. The resultant S0 keto species significantly undergoes reverse GSIPT and only a small fraction yields the trans-keto form that relaxes back more slowly. However, due to small spin-orbit couplings at T1/S0 crossing points, the ISC to S0 state occurs very slowly. The present work rationalizes not only the ultrafast excited-state decay dynamics of OB but also its phosphorescence emission at low temperature.

Identification of Elusive Keto and Enol Intermediates in the Photolysis of 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazinane.

Enols have emerged as critical reactive intermediates in combustion processes and in fundamental molecular mass growth processes in the interstellar medium, but the elementary reaction pathways to enols in extreme environments, such as during the decomposition of molecular energetic materials, are still elusive. Here, we report on the original identification of the enol and keto isomers of oxy-s-triazine, as well as its deoxygenated derivative 1,3,5-triazine, formed in the photodecomposition processes of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX)-a molecular energetic material. The identification was facilitated by exploiting isomer-selective tunable photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS) in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The present study reports the first experimental evidence of an enol intermediate in the dissociation domain of a nitramine-based energetic material. Our investigations suggest that the enols like 1,3,5-triazine-2-ol could be the source of hydroxyl radicals, and their inclusion in the theoretical models is important to understand the unprecedented chemistry of explosive materials.

Comparison of synthetic, spectroscopic, computational and electrochemical aspects of ferrocenyl-containing β-diketones, β-ketoesters and β-ketoamides

Three different classes of ferrocenyl-containing β-keto compounds Fc-CO-CH2-CO-R were synthesised to obtain two β-diketones with R = CH3,3, and R = Fc (ferrocenyl = FeII(C5H5)(C5H4)), 4, a β-ketoester, 5, with R = OEt and a β-ketoamide, 6, with R = NH2. The β-diketones exhibited keto ⇌ enol tautomerization with the enol form Fc-CO-CH=C(OH)-R as the dominant isomer. Both the β-ketoester and β-ketoamide primarily existed in the keto form. FTIR and 1H NMR measurements could distinguish between keto and enol isomers. Dilute CHCl3 solutions of 3 and 4 exhibited FTIR ѵC=O keto vibrations between 1627 and 1712 cm−1 and ѵC=O enol vibrations between 1590 and 1660 cm−1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) measurements showed keto isomer Fe 2p3/2 photoelectron lines at smaller binding energies than enol isomers. Significantly lower calculated molecular energies of the keto form of the β-ketoester 5 and β-ketoamide 6 utilising the Gaussian09 suite of programs at the B3LYP (uB3LYP for open-shell species), confirmed that 5 and 6 almost exclusively exists in the keto conformation. Cyclic voltammetry also distinguished between keto and enol isomers, and it was found that the electrochemical reversible ferrocenyl formal oxidation potential, E°ꞌ, of keto isomers of compounds can be estimated with the equation E°ꞌketo = 170.99χR–57.57 where χR is the group electronegativities of R in FcCOCH2COR. This result complements earlier research that enables calculation of the ferrocenyl formal oxidation potentials of enol isomers of β-diketones. Computational studies further showed that the HOMO orbitals of 3–6 is exclusively on the Fe centre and computed Mulliken spin densities on the dxy orbital of the oxidised iron species approached 1 e−.

Quantum-Chemical Search for Keto Tautomers of Azulenols in Vacuo and Aqueous Solution

Keto-enol prototropic conversions for carbonyl compounds and phenols have been extensively studied, and many interesting review articles and even books appeared in the last 50 years. Quite a different situation takes place for derivatives of biologically active azulene, for which only scanty information on this phenomenon can be found in the literature. In this work, quantum-chemical studies have been undertaken for symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted azulenols (constitutional isomers of naphthols). Stabilities of two enol (OH) rotamers and all possible keto (CH) tautomers have been analyzed in the gas phase {DFT(B3LYP)/6-311+G(d,p)} and also in aqueous solution {PCM(water)//DFT(B3LYP)/6-311+G(d,p)}. Contrary to naphthols, for which the keto forms can be neglected, at least one keto isomer (C1H, C2H, and/or C3H) contributes significantly to the tautomeric mixture of each azulenol to a higher degree in vacuo (non-polar environment) than in water (polar amphoteric solvent). The highest amounts of the CH forms have been found for 2- and 5-hydroxyazulenes, and the smallest ones for 1- and 6-hydroxy derivatives. The keto tautomer(s), together with the enol rotamers, can also participate in deprotonation reaction leading to a common anion and influence its acid-base properties. The strongest acidity in vacuo exhibits 6-hydroxyazulene, and the weakest one displays 1-hydroxyazulene, but all azulenols are stronger acids than phenol and naphthols. Bond length alternation in all DFT-optimized structures has been measured using the harmonic oscillator model of electron delocalization (HOMED) index. Generally, the HOMED values decrease for the keto tautomers, particularly for the ring containing the labile proton. Even for the keto tautomers possessing energetic parameters close to those of the enol isomers, the HOMED indices are low. However, some kind of parallelism exists for the keto forms between their relative energies and HOMEDs estimated for the entire molecules.

Hidden Isomer of Trifluoroacetylacetone Revealed by Matrix Isolation Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy.

Enol forms of trifluoroacetylacetone (TFacac) isolated in molecular and rare gas matrices were studied using infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, calculations using DFT B3LYP and M06-2X as well as MP2 methods were performed in order to investigate the possibility of coexistence of more than one stable enol form isomer of TFacac. Calculations predict that both stable enol isomers of TFacac, 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (1) and 5,5,5-trifluoro-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (2), could coexist, especially in matrices where the room temperature population is frozen, 1 being the most stable one. Raman and IR spectra of TFacac isolated in nitrogen (N2) and carbon monoxide (CO) matrices exhibit clear absorption bands, which cannot be attributed to this single isomer. Their relative band positions and intensity profiles match well with the theoretical calculations of 2. This allows us to confirm that in N2 and CO matrices both isomers exist in similar amounts. Careful examination of the spectra of TFacac in argon, xenon, neon, normal, and para-hydrogen (Ar, Xe, Ne, nH2, and pH2 respectively) matrices revealed that both isomers coexist in all the explored matrices, whereas 2 was not considered in the previous spectroscopic works. The amount of the second isomer (2) in the as-deposited samples depends on the host. The analysis of TFacac spectra in the different hosts and under various experimental conditions allows the vibrational characterization of both chelated isomers. The comparison with theoretical predictions is also investigated.

Global Diastereoconvergence in the Ireland-Claisen Rearrangement of Isomeric Enolates: Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted α-Amino Acids.

A dual experimental/theoretical investigation of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of tetrasubstituted α-phthalimido ester enolates to afford α-tetrasubstituted, β-trisubstituted α-amino acids (generally >20:1 dr) is described. For trans allylic olefins, the Z- and E-enol ethers proceed through chair and boat transition states, respectively. For cis allylic olefins, the trend is reversed. As a result, the diastereochemical outcome of the reaction is preserved regardless of the geometry of the enolate or the accompanying allylic olefin. We term this unique convergence of all possible olefin isomers global diastereoconvergence. This reaction manifold circumvents limitations in present-day technologies for the stereoselective enolization of α,α-disubstituted allyl esters. Density functional theory paired with state-of-the-art local coupled-cluster theory (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) was employed for the accurate determination of quantum mechanical energies.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Homocoupling of α-Carbonyl Sulfoxonium Ylides Under Mild Conditions: Methodology Development and Mechanistic DFT Study.

A mild ruthenium(II)-catalyzed homocoupling of α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides was developed and the detailed mechanism was understood based on DFT calculations in the current report. The catalytic system utilizes the α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylide as both the directing group for ortho-sp2 C-H activation and the acylmethylating reagent for C-C coupling. Various substituents are compatible in the transformation and a variety of isocoumarin derivatives were synthesized at room temperature without any protection. The theoretical results disclosed that the full catalytic cycle contains eight elementary steps, and in all the cationic Ru(II) monomer is involved as the catalytic active species. The acid additive is responsible for protonation of the ylide carbon prior to the intramolecular nucleophilic addition and C-C bond cleavage. Interestingly, the intermediacy of free acylmethylation intermediate or its enol isomer is not necessary for the transformation.