title: Cobalt-catalyzed ortho-alkylation of secondary benzamide with alkyl chloride through directed C-H bond activation.
abstract: Coupling of an alkyl chloride with a secondary benzamide derivative at the ortho-position can be achieved in good to excellent yield in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and cyclohexylmagnesium chloride in diethyl ether at room temperature. Cyclohexylmagnesium chloride formally acts to remove hydrogen atoms from the amide nitrogen and from the ortho-position and to generate the active cobalt species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Laurean
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ilies
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakamura