Ruthenium(II) Catalyzed Regiospecific C–H/O–H Annulations of Directing Arenes via Weak Coordination

Ruthenium­(II) catalyzed oxidative C–H/O–H annulations have been demonstrated using two different directing arenes viz. 2-arylquinolinone and 2-arylbenzoxazinone with internal alkynes. Regiospecific annulations have been observed for both directing arenes via the assistance of weaker carbonyl oxygen in the presence of a stronger nitrogen-directing site. In this substrate-controlled convergent protocol the weaker directing group dictates the annulation path.