[RuCl2(p-cymene)2]2 catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) toward xanthone and fluorenone analogs through intramolecular C–H bond functionalization reaction

A synthetic approach toward xanthone and fluorenone derivatives through ruthenium catalyzed intra-molecular C–H bond functionalization using an external oxidant has been developed. In the presence of [RuCl2(p-cymene)2]2, a variety of substituted ortho-aryloxy/aryl benzaldehydes underwent cross dehydrogenative coupling to afford the corresponding analogs in moderate to good yields.