Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C–H Alkynylation of Weakly Coordinating Benzoic Acids

C–H alkynylations with weakly coordinating acids were accomplished by the aid of an expedient ruthenium(II) catalysis manifold. The user-friendly C–H alkynylation occurred under mild conditions with the weak base K2CO3. The versatility of the ruthenium(II) catalysis was reflected by providing step-economical access to phthalides as well as enabling unprecedented decarboxylative ortho-C–H alkynylations.