Nearly two decades after its discovery, the Ru(II)-catalysed C–H arylation of N-chelating aromatics with aryl halides was reinvestigated and a new key reaction intermediate was uncovered. A thorough mechanistic elucidation has now led to the development of a new class of catalysts with unique efficacy towards late-stage arylation of ‘real-world’ compounds.
- Marco Simonetti
- Diego M. Cannas
- Igor Larrosa
