Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative C-H bond olefination of N-methoxybenzamides using an oxidizing directing group with a broad substrate scope is reported. The reactions of N-methoxybenzamides with acrylates in MeOH and styrene (or norbornadiene) in CF(3)CH(2)OH afforded two types of products.

An efficient and regioselective ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative annulation of enamides with alkynes via the cleavage of C(sp(2))-H/N-H bonds is reported. The reactions can afford N-acetyl substituted or N-unsubstituted pyrroles by altering the reaction conditions slightly.