Ruthenium-Catalyzed <i>meta-</i>Carboxylation

The <i>meta</i>-carboxylation of arenes containing pyridine and other azine-directing groups is reported. Using carbon tetrabromide as the C1 source, ruthenium­(III) trichloride catalysis enables functionalization of the arene <i>meta</i>-C–H position, affording carboxy methyl ester products after <i>in situ</i> reaction with methanol.