Cobalt–Phenanthroline Catalysts for the ortho Alkylation of Aromatic Imines under Mild Reaction Conditions

Mild mannered: Cobalt catalysts complexed with phenanthroline-type ligands and activated with Grignard reagents serve as inexpensive and effective catalysts for the ortho alkylation of aromatic imines with a variety of olefins (see scheme). The new catalytic systems feature remarkably mild reaction conditions for CH bond activation and functionalization.

Prof. Naohiko Yoshikai, Angew. Chem Int. Ed, 2011, 

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201101823