Capturing an Elusive CpCo(Allyl)CO Complex for Catalytic Allylic C─H Amidation of Unactivated Olefins

by Rajib Mandal, Abir Das, Pritam Dolui, Sayan Dutta, Muralidharan Shanmugam, Bholanath Maity, Luigi Cavallo, Basker Sundararaju
Year: 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.9432471Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

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Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Abstract

Transition-metal-catalyzed nitrene transfer reactions offer a powerful strategy for direct C─H bond amination; however, the nature of the key reactive intermediates, particularly with Cp*Co(III) systems, remains elusive. Herein, we report a cobalt-catalyzed allylic C─H amidation of unactivated alkenes using dioxazolones as practical nitrene precursors. The isolation of a well-defined π-allyl-cobalt(III) complex provides a platform for direct interrogation of the reactive nitrene species. Mechanistic studies, including EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, support the involvement of an open-shell singlet cobalt–nitrenoid intermediate. Both the neutral cobalt(III) precatalyst and the synthesized π-allyl-cobalt(III) complex are catalytically active, and the catalytic system displays broad substrate scope, good functional-group tolerance, and moderate to high regioselectivity. These results provide key mechanistic insights into cobalt-mediated nitrene transfer reactions and establish a foundation for the development of selective cobalt-catalyzed C─H amination reactions.