Quinazoline‐Directed C–H Bond Functionalization Catalyzed by Ruthenium(II) Carboxylate – Construction of Polyconjugated Aryl‐Heteroaryl Systems

A series of coupling products have been prepared by a ruthenium(II)-catalyzed direct ortho-C–H arylation of 2-(aryl/heteroaryl)-substituted quinazolines with (hetero)aryl bromides. Tri(hetero)aryl-substituted alkenes were also prepared by olefinic C–H activation of 2-(2-arylvinyl)quinazoline derivatives. High conversions and selectivities were achieved by choosing the appropriate ruthenium(II) carboxylate catalyst system, solvent, and reaction temperature. The possibility of a C(sp3)–H functionalization by applying an arylation/reduction reaction sequence was also demonstrated.