Amide Directed Cross-Coupling between Alkenes and Alkynes: A Regio- and Stereoselective Approach to Substituted (2Z,4Z)-Dienamides

A ruthenium-catalyzed direct cross-coupling between alkenes and alkynes via directed C-H bond activation is described. By using N,N-disubstituted aminocarbonyl as a directing group, this oxidant-free and atom-economic protocol resulted in high efficiency and good stereoselectivities, which opens a novel synthetic passway for access to substituted (Z,Z)-butadiene skeletons.