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 K₂CO₃. The versatility of the ruthenium­(II) catalysis was reflected by providing step-economical access to phthalides as well as enabling unprecedented decarboxylative <i>ortho</i>-C–H alkynylations