Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C-H Alkynylation of Weakly Coordinating Benzoic Acids

C-H alkynylations with weakly coordinating aide accomplished by the aid of an expedient ruthenium(II) catalysis manifold. The user-friendly C-H alkynylation occurred under mild conditions with the weak base K2CO3. The versatility of the ruthenium(II) catalysis was reflected by providing;step-economical access to phthalides as well as enabling unprecedented decarboxylative ortho-C-H alkynylations.