Co(acac)2/O2-Mediated Oxidative Isocyanide Insertion with 2-Aryl Anilines: Efficient Synthesis of 6-Amino Phenanthridine Derivatives

A novel and efficient protocol for the creation of 6-amino phenanthridine derivatives by Co(acac)(2)-catalyzed isocyanide insertion with 2-aryl anilines under an O-2 HAS atmosphere via homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) type C-H ffinctionalization has been developed. This reaction not only proceeds smoothly utilizing O-2 as the oxidant but also provides a new approach to construct phenanthridine derivatives utilizing readily available 2-aryl anilines with isoc-yanides instead of 2-isocyanobiaryls with different radical precursors.