Control of Product Selectivity in Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Arylation

Significance

The presence of styrene as additive in the ruthenium-catalyzed C-H arylation of aceto-phenones is shown to have a unique effect on product selectivity. While the reaction gives predominantly diarylation products, the addition of stoichiometric amounts of styrene switches the product selectivity and favors the formation of the monoarylated product.