Ru-Catalyzed ortho-Selective Direct Cross-Coupling Reaction of 2-Aryloxazolines and 2-Arylimidazolines

Significance

A ruthenium(II)-phosphine complex has been shown to catalyze direct coupling of 2-aryloxazolines and 2-arylimidazolines with aryl and alkenyl halides to give regioselectively 2- and 2,6-substituted products in moderate to excellent yields. Coupling of 3-substituted phenyloxazolines and N-acylarylimidazolines with aryl or vinyl halides give 2-substituted derivatives as the only products. The known conversion of oxazolinyl and imidazolinyl groups to other functionalities offers a further advantage of this methodology.