Reductive Arylation of Secondary Amides with Aryl Boronic Acids via C═O Bond Cleavage by Ruthenium Catalysis

A general and practical ruthenium-catalyzed reductive arylation of secondary amides with readily available arylboronic acids via C═O bond cleavage is reported. The synthesis of amides to secondary alkyl amines could be realized in only one step under the ligand-free and additive-free conditions. Furthermore, the desired products obtained from this reaction could be applied to multistep and diversified synthesis of complicated molecules and bioactive molecules. A broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance have been demonstrated for this method.