Ruthenium-Catalyzed <i>ortho</i>-C–H Mono- and Di-imidation of Arenes with <i>N</i>‑Tosyloxyphthalimide

The Ru­(II)-catalyzed imidation of the <i>o</i>-C–H bond in arenes with <i>N</i>-tosyloxyphthalimide is realized with the assistance of a methyl phenylsulfoximine (MPS) directing group. This method is applicable to access the hitherto difficult <i>o</i>-C–H di-imidation products. The sequential C–N and C–C bond formation of <i>o</i>-C–H arenes creates peripherally decorated benzoic acid derivatives. The readily removable MPS-DG and easily modifiable phthaloyl moiety make this strategy synthetically viable for constructing highly functionalized C–N bearing arenes and heteroarenes