Abstract Activation of C−C bonds allows editing of molecular skeletons, but methods for selective activation of nonpolar C−C bonds in the absence of a chelation effect or a driving force derived from opening of a strained ring are scarce. Herein, we report a method for ruthenium‐catalyzed activation of nonpolar C−C bonds of pro‐aromatic compounds by means of π‐coordination‐enabled aromatization. This method was effective for cleavage of C−C(alkyl) and C−C(aryl) bonds and for ring‐opening of spirocyclic compounds, providing an array of benzene‐ring‐containing products. The isolation of a methyl ruthenium complex intermediate supports a mechanism involving ruthenium‐mediated C−C bond cleavage.
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