Anti-Markovnikov hydroarylation of styrenes catalyzed by an in situ generated ruthenium complex

An efficient and practical catalytic system for the anti-Markovnikov ruthenium-catalyzed hydroarylation of styrenes with acetophenone, allowing a straightforward access to bibenzyl backbones, is described for the first time: this process, involving regioselective C-H bond activation, is complementary to a Friedel-Crafts type reaction giving the branched adduct.