The unprecedented transformation of a wide range of synthetically appealing phthalimides into amides in a single-step operation has been achieved in high yields and short reaction times using a ruthenium catalyst. Mechanistic studies revealed a unique, homogeneous pathway involving five-membered ring opening and CO release with water being the source of protons.

The first ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative homo- and cross-coupling of exclusive vinyl derivatives giving highly valued 1,3-diene building blocks is reported. The catalytic system is based on readily available reagents and it...