Visible light-induced ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed hydroarylation of unactivated olefins

Hydroarylation reactions have emerged as a valuable tool for the direct functionalization of C-H bonds with ideal atom economy. However, common catalytic variants for these transformations largely require harsh reaction conditions, which often translate into reduced selectivites. In contrast, we herein report on a photo-induced hydroarylation of unactivated olefins at room temperature employing a readily available ruthenium(ii) catalyst. Our findings include high position- and regio-selectivity and remarkable tolerance of a wide range of functional groups, which further enabled the late-stage diversification.