A novel design-based removable N,O-bidentate directing group based on cheap and commercially available 4-aminoantipyrine (AAP) is reported. Aromatic AP amides bearing 4-aminoantipyrine underwent efficient Ru-catalyzed C(sp 2 )À H arylation using [RuCl 2 (PPh 3 ) 3 ] as a catalyst and aryl bromides as electrophiles. The novel bidentate directing group enabled the CÀ H functionalization reaction with good scope, good functional group tolerance and in decent yields.