 This reaction has been proposed to proceed via a similar method to that of the meta alkylation reported by Frost and Ackermann which involves a "meta"-selective C-H bond alkylation reaction with secondary and tertiary alkyl halides catalyzed by ruthenium(II) carboxylate catalysts.The directing group first coordinate to the ruthenium catalyst.A reversible metalation takes place to generate the cycloruthenated complex as the key intermediates.