Ru<sup>II</sup>–Catalyzed\nC–H Activated\nDiverse Cyclization with Transformation of Substrate-DG to Functional\nGroups: Synthesis of Functionalized Indoles and Indenones

We present an elegant and efficient method for Ru(II)-catalyzed\nC–H activation, followed by a diverse range of intermolecular\ncross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions. This process is facilitated\nby an intrinsic directing group (DG) and includes the in situ transformation\nof the DG into common and useful functional groups. Notably, this\nmethod avoids the installation and deinstallation of the directing\ngroup. Our approach enables the selective functionalization of benzimidate,\ncoupled with the cyclization of <i>o</i>-alkynyl-aniline,\nresulting in the high-yield synthesis of diverse compounds such as\nindoles, and indenones. The sequential formation of C–N, C–C,\nand C–O bonds, followed by hydrolysis, underscores the versatile\nin situ transformation of the directing group. This work not only\nbroadens the synthetic toolbox for constructing complex heterocyclic\nstructures but also highlights the potential for sustainable and selective\nsynthesis of valuable compounds.