Cationic Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed Aryl and Alkenyl CH Amidation: A Mild Protocol for the Modification of Purine Derivatives

A cationic cobalt(III)-catalyzed direct CH amidation of unactivated (hetero)arenes and alkenes by using 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones as the amidating reagent has been developed. This transformation proceeds efficiently under external oxidant-free conditions with a broad substrate scope. Moreover, 6-arylpurine compounds, which often exhibit high potency in antimycobacterial, cytostatic, and anti-HCV activities, can be smoothly amidated, thus offering a mild protocol for their late stage functionalization.