Ruthenium-Catalyzed Oxidative Synthesis of 2-Pyridones through C–H/N–H Bond Functionalizations

An inexpensive ruthenium catalyst enabled oxidative annulations of alkynes by acrylamides with ample scope, which allowed for the preparation of 2-pyridones employing various electron-rich and electron-deficient acrylamides as well as (di)aryl- and (di)alkyl-substituted alkynes.