Pyridone Directed Ru-Catalyzed Olefination of sp2(C–H) Bond Using Michael Acceptors: Creation of Drug Analogues

Herein, the ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective sp2(C–H) monoalkenylation of N-arylpyridones has been demonstrated, where the pyridone was utilized as a weakly coordinating directing group. Importantly, the current methodology has been effectively applied to the synthesis of many drug analogues such as pirfenidone, naproxen, ibuprofen, geraniol, umbelliferone, pregnenolone, and estrone. This methodology tolerates a wide range of functional groups and yields up to 93% yield. A six-membered ruthenium complex was also detected by HRMS.