Grubbs Metathesis Enabled by a Light-Driven gem-Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes

[(NHC)(cymene)RuCl₂] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes instigate a light-driven gem-hydrogenation of internal alkynes with concomitant formation of discrete Grubbs-type ruthenium carbene species. This unorthodox reactivity mode is harnessed in the form of a “hydrogenative metathesis” reaction, which converts an enyne substrate into a cyclic alkene. The intervention of ruthenium carbenes formed in the actual gem-hydrogenation step was proven by the isolation and crystallographic characterization of a rather unusual representative of this series carrying an unconfined alkyl group on a disubstituted carbene center.