Cobalt-Catalyzed Regioselective Carboamidation of Alkynes with Imides Enabled by Cleavage of C–N and C–C Bonds

Through the oxidative addition of cobalt into the N–C­(O) bond of phthalimide and the subsequent decarbonylation, we describe an efficient cobalt-catalyzed intermolecular decarbonylative carboamidation of alkynes. High regioselectivities have been achieved for unsymmetrical alkynes (including aryl–alkyl or aryl–aryl) to deliver polysubstituted isoquinolones. To facilitate step economy, a three-component decarbonylative carboamidation of alkynes with phthalic anhydrides and amines has been demonstrated using the current cobalt catalysis.