Ruthenium-catalyzed direct oxidative alkenylation of arenes through twofold C-H bond functionalization

Significant progress has been accomplished in direct olefinations through twofold C-H bond functionalization of arenes and heteroarenes employing readily accessible, selective and relatively inexpensive ruthenium catalysts. Particularly, ruthenium(II) complexes have allowed challenging direct double C-H/C-H bond alkenylations of arenes with ample scope. These catalysts set the stage for step-economical C-H/C-H bond functionalization with electron-rich as well as electron-deficient arenes and heteroarenes, and, thereby, provide versatile access to diversely decorated styrenes.