sp3 C–H Bond Functionalization with Ruthenium Catalysts

International audienceThe selective formation of carbon–carbon bond by functionalization of an sp3C–H bond is still a challenge in organic synthesis. There are already examples involving transition metal catalysis. In this chapter we review the use of ruthenium(0) and ruthenium(II) catalysts for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds based on creation of reactive sites by sp3C–H bond activation. We show that in most cases, regioselective sp3C–H bond activation is induced either from functional substrates bearing a directing group, which strongly coordinates the metal centre, or by selective C–H bond activation at the α-carbon of a heteroatom accompanied by hydrogen transfer processes and transient creation of reactive functional group