Ruthenium-catalyzed ortho-alkenylation of phenylphosphine oxides through regio- and stereoselective alkyne insertion into C-H bonds.

Direct ortho-substitution took place efficiently upon treatment of tri-, di-, and monoarylphosphine oxides with internal alkynes in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst to produce (o-alkenylphenyl)phosphine oxides regio- and stereoselectively. Chemoselective reduction of a product gave the corresponding (o-alkenylphenyl)phosphine, which may be useful as a ligand for transition metals.