Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C-H Alkynylation of Weakly Coordinating Benzoic Acids.

C-H alkynylations with weakly coordinating acids were accomplished by the aid of an expedient ruthenium(II) catalysis manifold. The user-friendly C-H alkynylation occurred under mild conditions with the weak base KCO. The versatility of the ruthenium(II) catalysis was reflected by providing step-economical access to phthalides as well as enabling unprecedented decarboxylative ortho-C-H alkynylations.