Ruthenium(II)‐catalyzed Monohydroalkylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with N‐Acyl Pyrroles using a C−H Activation Strategy

A ruthenium(II)‐catalyzed Michael addition of N‐acyl pyrroles to α,β‐unsaturated ketones has been developed by using a C−H activation strategy. The key to this selective reaction is to use an acyl group as an effective chelating group. The use of AgOTf remarkably promoted the protonolysis process and thereby facilitated the Michael addition reaction. Monoalkylated pyrroles could be selectively synthesized by controlling the ratio of α,β‐unsaturated ketones to N‐acyl pyrroles.