A highly selective combination of ruthenium complex and oxidant, which catalyzes the oxidative C–H esterification of allylarenes to the corresponding bis-(E)-cinnamates and (E)-cinnamates, is described. The one-pot route was carried out by olefinic migration of allylarenes with RuCl2(PPh3)3 and DDQ-mediated allylic oxidation of the resulting internal alkenes with various alcohols in good yields.
Key words
allylarenes - C–H esterification - cinnamates