Cobalt-Catalyzed ortho-Alkylation through Directed C-H Bond Activation

Significance

In this work a cobalt-catalyzed coupling reaction of an alkyl chloride with a secondary benzamide is reported. The amide moiety acts as directing group in the ortho position, cyclohexylmagnesium chloride is used as base to remove hydrogen atoms from the amide and the ortho position and also facilitates the generation of the active cobalt catalyst species.