Selective carbon-carbon bond formation: terpenylations of amines involving hydrogen transfers

The well-defined ruthenium(II) complex A featuring a phosphine sulfonate chelate promotes the introduction of terpene moieties onto cyclic saturated amines through hydrogen auto transfers without side alkene reduction. These eco-friendly transformations enable the production of diverse N- and C-terpenoid alkaloids with only water and carbon dioxide as benign side products.