Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C–H Acylmethylation between (Hetero)arenes and α-Cl Ketones/Sulfoxonium Ylides

A first ruthenium(II)-catalyzed (hetero)arenes C–H activation coupling with α-Cl ketones/sulfoxonium ylides to efficiently generate acylmethylated (hetero)arenes has been described. Compared with the previous studies, this transformation constitutes the first coupling of α-Cl ketones with arenes under a low-cost Ru(II) complex catalysis. Meanwhile, sulfoxonium ylides function as the surrogates of α-Cl ketones were also used to yield acylmethylation of (hetero)arenes. This strategy features high efficiency, wide substrate tolerance, easily accessible starting materials, and mild reaction conditions.