Ruthenium-catalyzed amino- and alkoxycarbonylations with carbamoyl chlorides and alkyl chloroformates via aromatic C-H bond cleavage.

Ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective direct amino- and alkoxycarbonylations of aromatic rings via C-H bond cleavage using chlorocarbonyl compounds are described. A broad generality of amide and ester groups was achieved taking advantage of the wide availability of carbonylating agents. Alkyl chloroformates, inapplicable to usual Friedel-Crafts methods, can also be used for direct catalytic alkoxycarbonylation.