Ni-catalyzed benzylic β-C(sp3)–H bond activation of formamides
Rong-Hua Wang, W. Xu, Hongli Wu, Yue Li, Jiang‐Fei Li, Tao Zhang, Genping Huang, Mengchun Ye
Abstract
Abstract The development of transition metal-catalyzed β -C–H bond activation via highly-strained 4-membered metallacycles has been a formidable task. So far, only scarce examples have been reported to undergo β -C–H bond activation via 4-membered metallacycles, and all of them rely on precious metals. In contrast, earth-abundant and inexpensive 3d transition metal-catalyzed β -C–H bond activation via 4-membered metallacycles still remains an elusive challenge. Herein, we report a phosphine oxide-ligated Ni−Al bimetallic catalyst to activate secondary benzylic C(sp 3 )–H bonds of formamides via 4-membered nickelacycles, providing a series of α,β -unsaturated γ -lactams in up to 97% yield.