Ru-Catalyzed Switchable Reactions of Acrylic Acids with Glyoxylate: Access to Functionalized γ-Butenolides

We herein report a switchable coupling of acrylic acids with ethyl glyoxylate under ruthenium catalysis enabling the synthesis of diverse functionalized γ-butenolides. The carboxyl-directed vinylic C–H cleavage and dual nucleophilic addition to aldehyde are achieved to deliver hydroxymethylated butanolides under mild and oxidant-free conditions. Alternatively, a controlled and unprecedented tandem C–H cyclization/oxidative homocoupling reaction is realized by using silver salt as the oxidant to generate a range of dimeric butenolides bearing vicinal all-carbon quaternary centers.