Beyond directed ortho metalation: Ru-catalyzed CAr-O activation/cross-coupling reaction by amide chelation.

Disclosed is a new, catalytic, and general methodology for the chemical synthesis of biaryl, heterobiaryl, and polyaryl molecules by the cross-coupling of o-methoxybenzamides with aryl boroneopentylates. The reaction is based on the activation of the unreactive C-OMe bond by the proximate amide directing group using catalytic RuH2(CO)(PPh3)3 conditions. A one-step, base-free coupling process is thereby established that has the potential to supersede the useful two-step directed ortho metalation/cross-coupling reaction involving cryogenic temperature and strong base conditions. High regioselectivity, orthogonality with the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, operational simplicity, minimum waste, and convenient scale-up make these reactions suitable for industrial applications.