RETRACTED: Selective and catalytic arylation of N-phenylpyrrolidine:: sp3 C-H bond functionalization in the absence of a directing group (Retracted Article. See vol 128, pg 3102, 2006)

We herein describe our studies on arylation of N-phenylpyrrolidine, which led to the development of a new transformation for the direct and selective arylation of sp3 C-H bonds in the absence of a directing group. In this method, Ru(H)2(CO)(PCy3)3 4 was used as the catalyst, and preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that Ru(Ph)(I)(CO)(PCy3)2 5 is the key intermediate of the catalytic cycle. A large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 5.4) was observed, which supports the proposal that C-H bond metalation is the slow step. Preliminary examination of the substrate scope showed that in addition to N-phenylpyrrolidine, N-methyl- and N-benzylpyrrolidine, as well as N-benzoylpyrrolidine, were arylated under the reaction conditions. Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society.