Cobalt-Catalyzed Selective Synthesis of Isoquinolines Using Picolinamide as a Traceless Directing Group.

Picolinamide has first been employed as a traceless directing group for the cobalt-catalyzed oxidative annulation of benzylamides with alkynes to synthesize isoquinolines through C-H/N-H bonds activation. Oxygen is used as a terminal oxidant. This protocol exhibits good functional group tolerance and excellent regioselectivity. Both terminal and internal alkynes can be efficiently applied to this catalytic system as substrates.