Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules of Zhejiang Province Department of Chemistry School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future Westlake University 600 Dunyu Road Hangzhou 310030 Zhejiang Province China
2. Institute of Natural Sciences Westlake Institute for Advanced Study 18 Shilongshan Road Hangzhou 310024 Zhejiang Province China
Abstract
AbstractActivation of C−C bonds allows editing of molecular skeletons, but methods for selective activation of nonpolar C−C bonds in the absence of a chelation effect or a driving force derived from opening of a strained ring are scarce. Herein, we report a method for ruthenium‐catalyzed activation of nonpolar C−C bonds of pro‐aromatic compounds by means of π‐coordination‐enabled aromatization. This method was effective for cleavage of C−C(alkyl) and C−C(aryl) bonds and for ring‐opening of spirocyclic compounds, providing an array of benzene‐ring‐containing products. The isolation of a methyl ruthenium complex intermediate supports a mechanism involving ruthenium‐mediated C−C bond cleavage.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China