Cobalt-Catalyzed Reductive Alkylation of Amines with Carboxylic Acids

Direct reductive alkylation of amines with carboxylic acid is carried out by using an inexpensive, air-stable cobalt/triphos catalytic system with molecular hydrogen as the reductant. This efficient synthetic method proceeds through reduction and condensation, followed by reduction of the in situ-generated imine into the amine in a green catalytic process.

Cp*Co(iii)-catalyzed N-alkylation of amines with secondary alcohols

We report here the first high-valent cobalt(iii)-catalyzed direct alkylation of aromatic amines with secondary alcohols.

C–H and N–H bond annulation of aryl amides with unactivated olefins by merging cobalt(iii) and photoredox catalysis

A mild, environment-friendly protocol has been developed to carry out the [4+2] annulation of aryl amides with unactivated olefins.

Cp*CoIII -Catalyzed Efficient Dehydrogenation of Secondary Alcohols

A novel, well-defined molecular Cp*Co^III complex was isolated and structurally characterized for the first time. The efficiency of this cobalt catalyst was demonstrated in the alcohol dehydrogenation and dehydrative coupling of secondary alcohols under mild conditions into ketones and ethers, respectively.

Site-selective C–H bond carbonylation with CO2 and cobalt-catalysis

Utilization of anthropogenic greenhouse gas CO₂ for catalytic C–C bond formation via conversion to essentially valuable C1 synthons like CO is very challenging.

Isolation of Cp*CoIII -Alkenyl Intermediate in Efficient Cobalt-Catalyzed C-H Alkenylation with Alkynes

A general and efficient procedure for C-H alkenylation of arenes with a broad substrate scope catalyzed by Cp*Co^III was demonstrated with alkynes. A highly selective mono-alkenylation and sequential bis-C-H bond functionalization was displayed to exemplify the versatility of the cobalt catalyst. Isolation of cationic Cp*Co^III -alkenyl intermediate was achieved under identical catalytic conditions to further establish the proposed pathway.

C–H and N–H Bond Annulation of Benzamides with Isonitriles Catalyzed by Cobalt(III)

A simple efficient, atom-economical procedure was developed for the cobalt-catalyzed C–H bond annulation of benzamides with isonitriles under mild conditions. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional group including heterocycles. Diverse 3-(alkylimino)-2-quinolin-8-yl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-ones were synthesized using isonitriles as the C1 source through C–H and N–H bond annulation via C–H bond activation in a ‘green’ solvent. Vinylamides were also used similarly with tert-butyl isonitrile to give 3-(tert-butylimino)-1-quinolin-8-yl-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones.

Cp*Co(III)-Catalyzed Annulation of Carboxylic Acids with Alkynes

A new procedure for oxidative coupling of aromatic and acrylic acids with alkynes has been developed using abundant, nontoxic, and air stable Cp*Co(III) catalyst. The coupling involves initial cyclometalation via weak chelation-assisted C-H bond activation followed by alkyne coordination, insertion, and reductive elimination leading to diverse isocoumarins (α-pyranones) in good yields under mild conditions.

Cobalt catalyzed carbonylation of unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds

A general efficient regioselective cobalt catalyzed carbonylation of unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds of aliphatic amides was demonstrated using atmospheric (1-2 atm) carbon monoxide as a C1 source. This straightforward approach provides access to α-spiral succinimide regioselectively in a good yield. Cobalt catalyzed sp3 C-H bond carbonylation is reported for the first time including the functionalization of (β)-C-H bonds of α-1°, 2°, 3° carbons and even internal (β)-C-H bonds. Our initial mechanistic investigation reveals that the C-H activation step is irreversible and will possibly be the rate determining step.

Iron-Catalyzed Allylic Amination Directly from Allylic Alcohols

Allylic amination, directly from alcohols, has been demonstrated without any Lewis acid activators using an efficient and regiospecific molecular iron catalyst. Various amines and alcohols were employed and the reaction proceeded through the oxidation/reduction (redox) pathway. A direct one-step synthesis of common drugs, such as cinnarizine and nafetifine, was exhibited from cinnamyl alcohol that produced water as side product.

Cobalt(iii) catalyzed C-8 selective C–H and C–O coupling of quinoline N-oxide with internal alkynes via C–H activation and oxygen atom transfer

An efficient, scalable, atom-economical, regio-selective air stable Cp*Co(iii) catalyzed C–H and C–O coupling via a C–H activation/oxygen atom transfer reaction of quinoline N-oxide and an internal alkyne is reported.