Ruthenium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction of ketones with transformable directing groups as alkenyl electrophiles.

Herein, we report the development of ruthenium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction of β-ketoamides as alkenyl electrophiles with organoboronates. This reaction presumably proceeds via the cleavage of the alkenyl C-N bond of the β-enaminoamide, which is generated in situ from the β-ketoamide and pyrrolidine, and is promoted by a nearby amide directing group and a ruthenium catalyst.