Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed Dehydrative [4+2] Annulation of Oxime with Alkyne by CH and NOH Activation

Efficient, scalable cobalt-catalyzed redox-neutral [4+2] annulation of readily available oximes and alkyne is reported. The developed synthetic methodology is widely applicable and tolerates various functional groups including heterocycles. A stable Cp*CoIII neutral complex is employed as the catalyst for this redox-neutral [4+2] annulation reaction, which progresses smoothly by way of a reversible cyclometallation without any external oxidizing agent, and produces only water as the side product.