Rhenium(I)-Catalyzed C-Methylation of Ketones, Indoles, and Arylacetonitriles Using Methanol.

A ReCl(CO)5/MeC(CH2PPh2)3 (L2) system was developed for the C-methylation reactions utilizing methanol and base, following the borrowing hydrogen strategy. Diverse ketones, indoles, and arylacetonitriles underwent mono- and dimethylation selectively up to 99% yield. Remarkably, tandem multiple methylations were also achieved by employing this catalytic system.