Ruthenium-catalyzed direct C-H amidation of arenes including weakly coordinating aromatic ketones.

C-H activation: The ruthenium-catalyzed direct sp(2) C-H amidation of arenes by using sulfonyl azides as the amino source is presented (see scheme). A wide range of substrates were readily amidated including arenes bearing weakly coordinating groups. Synthetic utility of the thus obtained products was demonstrated in the preparation of biologically active heterocycles.