Ruthenium-catalysed decarboxylative unsymmetric dual ortho-/meta-C–H bond functionalization of arenecarboxylic acids

Here, we describe a ruthenium-catalysed decarboxylative unsymmetric ortho-C–H azaarylation/meta-C–H alkylation via a traceless directing group relay strategy. The installation of a 2-pyridyl functionality via carboxyl directed ortho-C–H activation is critical to promote decarboxylation and enable meta-C–H bond alkylation to streamline the synthesis of 4-azaaryl-benzo-fused five-membered heterocycles. This protocol is characterized by high regio- and chemoselectivity, broad substrate scopes, and good functional group tolerance under redox-neutral conditions.