Methylation of C(sp³)-H/C(sp²)-H Bonds with Methanol Catalyzed by Cobalt System

Zhenghui Liu, Zhenzhen Yang, Xiaoxiao Yu, Hongye Zhang, Bo Yu, Yanfei Zhao and Zhimin Liu*

*Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China, Email: liuzmiccas.ac.cn

Z. Liu, Z. Yang, X. Yu, H. Zhang, B. Yu, Y. Zhao, Z. Liu, Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 5228-5231.

DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b02462

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Abstract

A highly efficient Co-based catalytic system, composed of a commercially available Co salt, a tetradentate phosphine ligand, and K₂CO₃ enables the methylation of C(sp³)-H/C(sp²)-H bonds using methanol as a methylating reagent. The catalytic system showed high catalytic activity for the methylation of C-H bonds in aryl alkyl ketones, aryl acetonitriles, and indoles, with wide substrate scope and good functional group tolerance.

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proposed mechanism

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Key Words

ketones, indoles

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ID: J54-Y2017