Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative vinylation of heteroarene carboxylic acids with alkenes via regioselective C-H bond cleavage.

The ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative vinylation of thiophene-2-carboxylic acids with alkenes efficiently proceeds through directed C-H bond cleavage to give the corresponding 3-vinylated products. Similarly, benzothiophene-, benzofuran-, pyrrole-, and indolecarboxylic acids also undergo regioselective vinylation.