Towards ideal synthesis: alkenylation of aryl C-H bonds by a Fujiwara-Moritani reaction.

An overview of recent progress in the Fujiwara-Moritani reaction, which is the palladium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of arenes with olefins to afford alkenyl arenes, is described. It is emphasized that regioselectivity on aryl ortho- or meta-CH activation could be controlled very well in the presence of Pd, Rh, or Ru catalysts with the assistance of various chelation groups on aromatic rings in this coupling reaction. Catalytic alkenylation of aryl CH bonds from simple arenes is also discussed, especially from electron-deficient arenes. These advanced protocols would not only make the Fujiwara-Moritani reaction more useful and applicable in organic synthesis but also light the way for the further development of the functionalization of normal CH bonds.