Olefin Hydroarylation Catalyzed by a Single-Component Cobalt(-I) Complex

A single-component Co(-I) catalyst, [(PPh3)(3)Co(N-2)]Li-(THF)(3), has been developed for olefin hydroarylations with (N-aryl)aryl imine substrates. More than 40 examples were examined under mild reaction conditions to afford the desired alkyl-arene product in good to excellent yields. Catalysis occurs in a regioselective manner to afford exclusively branched products with styrene-derived substrates or linear products for aliphatic olefins. Electron-withdrawing functional groups (e.g., -F, -CF3, and -CO2Me) were tolerated under the reaction conditions.