One-Pot Access to Cinnamates via Direct Oxidative C-H Transformation of Allylarenes

A highly selective combination of ruthenium complex and oxidant, which catalyzes the oxidative C-H esterification of allylarenes to the corresponding bis-(E)-cinnamates and (E)-cinnamates, is described. The one-pot route was carried out by olefinic migration of allylarenes with RuCl2(PPh3)(3) and DDQ-mediated allylic oxidation of the resulting internal alkenes with various alcohols in good yields.