Photo-induced ruthenium-catalyzed alkene C–H-arylation at room temperature

C-H arylation has surfaced as a powerful tool for molecular sciences, with alkene C-H arylation thus far requiring either high reaction temperatures of 120 °C or stoichiometric amounts of RMgX. In sharp contrast, we herein report on room-temperature C-H arlyations of alkenes by means of ruthenium(II) catalysis with ample scope. This strategy also enabled late-stage diversification of structurally complex molecules and mechanistic studies provided strong evidence for photo-excitation of a ruthenacycle intermediate.