Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed electrooxidative [4+2] annulation of benzylic alcohols with internal alkynes: entry to isocoumarins.

A new ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed electrooxidative [4+2] annulation of primary benzylic alcohols with internal alkynes is described, which enables benzylic alcohols as weakly directing group precursors to access isocoumarins via multiple C-H functionalization. The reaction works well with a broad substrate scope, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and incorporates practically the isocoumarin unit into diverse bioactive molecules. Mechanistic studies indicate that activation of aryl C(sp2)-H bonds is achieved through the generation of the active benzoyloxy-Ru(ii) intermediates via oxidation of benzylic alcohols using an electrooxidative Ru(ii) catalyst.