Highly Regio- and Stereoselective Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Direct ortho-Alkenylation of Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Aldehydes with Activated Alkenes under Open Atmosphere

Various aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes reacted with activated alkenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of [{RuCl2(p-cymene)}(2)], AgSbF6, and Cu(OAc)(2)center dot H2O to give substituted alkene derivatives in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. The corresponding alkene derivatives were further converted into unusual four-membered cyclic ketones or a polycyclic isochromanone derivative via a photochemical rearrangement. Notably, the catalytic reaction was conducted under an open atmosphere.