Ruthenium-Catalyzed Monoselective C-H Methylation and d3-Methylation of Arenes

Site-selective installation of C-Me bonds remains a powerful and sought-after tool to alter the chemical and pharmacological properties of a molecule. Direct C-H functionalization provides an attractive means of achieving this transformation. Such protocols, however, typically utilize harsh conditions and hazardous methylating agents with poor applicability toward late-stage functionalization. Furthermore, highly monoselective methylation protocols remain scarce. Herein, we report an efficient monoselective, directed ortho-methylation of arenes using N,N,N-trimethylanilinium salts as noncarcinogenic, bench-stable methylating agents. We extend this protocol to d3-methylation in addition to the late-stage functionalization of pharmaceutically active compounds. Detailed kinetic studies indicate the rate-limiting in situ formation of MeI is integral to the observed reactivity.