Carboxylate-Assisted Ruthenium-Catalyzed Direct Alkylations of Ketimines

The mechanism of carboxylate-assisted ruthenium(II)-catalyzed direct aikylations of ketimines with unactivated alkyl halides was probed through experimental studies. The remarkable chemoselectivity of the broadly applicable catalyst also enabled direct alkylations among others on H2O or under solvent-free reaction conditions.