Ruthenium-Catalyzed Pyridyl-Directed C-H Allylation of Arenes with 1-Aryl-2-vinylpyrrolidines

The [Ru(p-cymene)Cl-2](2)-catalyzed reaction of 2-arylpyridines with 1-aryl-2-vinylpyrrolidines is carried out in CF3CH2OH at 40 ? in the presence of KOAc, affording ortho-C-H allylation products of arenes in 29 % to 99 % yields and 1:0.7 to 1 : 5.4 Z/E ratio. The amino groups remain in the product molecules. The protocol suits for a wide scope of substrates and tolerates functional groups including alkyl, aryl, MeO, F, Cl, Br, OCF3, and CF3 groups.