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

The first ruthenium­(II)-catalyzed (hetero)­arene 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 low-cost Ru­(II) complex catalysis. Meanwhile, sulfoxonium ylides functioning as the surrogates of α-Cl ketones were also used to facilitate acylmethylation of (hetero)­arenes. This strategy features high efficiency, wide substrate tolerance, easily accessible starting materials, and mild reaction conditions.