Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed chemoselective deacylative annulation of 1,3-diones with sulfoxonium ylides via C–C bond activation

The first successful example of deacylative annulation of 1,3-diones with sulfoxonium ylides was achieved through Ru(ii)-catalyzed C–C bond activation. The excellent chemoselectivity and broad substrate scope render this method a practical and versatile approach for the preparation of (hetero)aryl and alkenyl substituted furans, which are valuable units in many biologically active compounds and functional materials. A preliminary mechanistic study reveals that this process involves a deacylative α-ruthenation to generate key alkyl Ru(ii) intermediates with the release of a benzoic acid fragment.