Cobalt-Catalyzed Nitrogen Atom Insertion in Arylcycloalkenes

Developing strategies enabling the modification of underlying molecular frameworks facilitates access to underexplored chemical spaces. Skeletal editing is an emerging technology for late-stage diversification of bioactive molecules. However, the current state of this knowledge remains undeveloped. This work describes a simple protocol that "inserts" a nitrogen atom into arylcycloalkenes to form the corresponding N-heterocycles. The use of an inexpensive cobalt catalyst under aqueous and open-air conditions makes this protocol very practical. Examples of late-stage modification of compounds of pharmaceutical interest and complex fused ring compounds further demonstrated the potentially broad applicability of this methodology.