ortho‐Benzoxylation of N‐Alkyl Benzamides with Aromatic Acids Catalyzed by Ruthenium(II) Complex

A highly regioselective ortho‐benzoxylation of N‐alkyl benzamides with aromatic acids in the presence of [{RuCl₂(p‐cymene)}₂], AgSbF₆, and (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ in 1,2‐dichloroethane at 100 °C for 24 h affording ortho‐benzoxylated N‐alkyl benzamides by C?H bond activation is described. Further, Ru‐catalyzed alkenylation is done at the ortho C?H bond of benzoxylated N‐alkyl benzamides with alkenes in water solvent. Subsequently, the benzoxyl moiety of N‐alkyl benzamides was converted into a hydroxyl group in the presence of base or acid. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed to account for the present coupling reaction.