Traceless Directing Group Assisted Cobalt-Catalyzed C-H Carbonylation of Benzylamines

The first example of cobalt-catalyzed C(sp(2))-H carbonylation of benzylamines using a traceless directing group is reported, which was successfully applied to the synthesis of N-unprotected iso-indolinones through direct C-H/N-H bonds activation. This protocol tolerates a variety of functional groups and provides a facile and efficient method for the formal synthesis of (+)-garenoxacin.