Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C−H Methylation with Trifluoroborates

^‡ These authors contributed equally

Dedicated to Professor Dieter Enders

Abstract

A cationic ruthenium(II)-complex enabled unprecedented C–H methylations on indoles and pyrroles. The versatile catalyst proved to be widely applicable and delivered the methylated heteroarenes with excellent levels of positional selectivity and ample substrate scope. The robustness of the catalysts was reflected by the challenging racemization-free C–H methylation of (S)-tryptophan.

Key words

amino acids - C–H activation - heteroarenes - methylation - ruthenium - tryptophan

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