Cobalt-Catalyzed, Imine-Directed Olefin Hydroarylation under Grignard-Free Conditions

We report here that a cobalt catalyst generated from a cobalt(II) salt and a ligand using magnesium metal is capable of promoting hydroarylation reactions through chelation-assisted C−H activation. With the appropriate choice of the ligand and other reaction conditions, ketimine- or aldimine-directed branched selective hydroarylations of styrenes and ketimine-directed hydroarylations of vinylsilane have been achieved. The reported catalytic systems may serve as more convenient alternatives to previously developed catalytic systems employing Grignard reagents as reducing agents.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Accepted versio