Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed acyloxylation of the ortho-C–H bond in 2-aroyl-imidazoles with carboxylic acids

Abstract

The reaction of 2-aroyl-imidazoles with carboxylic acids using [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ as the catalyst and Ag₂CO₃ as the oxidant results in ortho-C–H acyloxylation to afford acyloxylation products, in which the imidazole group functions as a directing group. A wide range of functional groups are tolerated in the reaction. The directing group can be easily converted to the corresponding esters under mild conditions.