Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed selective C–H difluoroalkylation of aniline derivatives with pyrimidyl auxiliaries

A ruthenium-catalyzed alternative para- and meta-difluoroalkylation of anilines is herein reported. The reaction tolerates a broad range of aniline derivatives and provides a convenient approach for accessing the corresponding para/meta-selective difluoroalkylated products. Mechanism studies demonstrated that the initial CAr–H and N–H cycloruthenation is the pivotal step in achieving remote C–H difluoroacetylation.