Cobalt-catalyzed C(sp3)-H/C(sp2)-H oxidative coupling between alkanes and benzamides

A direct cobalt-catalyzed oxidative coupling between C(sp(2))-H in unactivated benzamides and C(sp(3))-H in simple alkanes, ethers and toluene derivatives was explored. This protocol achieves direct C-C formation without using alkyl or aryl halide surrogates and exhibits high practicality with ample substrate scope. The method provides a new way to construct linear and five- or six-membered ring moieties in bioactive molecules.