Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation and hydroarylation of maleimides with phthalazinones - insights into additive-controlled product selectivity

Herein, we developed ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation and hydroarylation of maleimides with phthalazinones. The product selectivity is controlled by the additives, and the hydroarylated product was obtained in water, which is an important highlight of this study. Control experiments were conducted to elucidate a plausible mechanism. These experiments suggest the occurrence of an oxidative dehydrogenation pathway over E2-type elimination - the key step in producing Heck-type products.

Automated summary

Here, we developed ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation and hydroarylation of maleimides with phthalazinones. The product selectivity is controlled by the additives, and the hydroarylated product was obtained in water, which is an important highlight of this study. Control experiments suggest the occurrence of oxidative dehydrogenation pathway over E2-type elimination - the key step in producing Heck-type products.