Cobalt-Catalyzed Carbonylative Synthesis of Phthalimides from N-(Pyridin-2-ylmethyl)benzamides with TFBen as the CO Source.

A cobalt-catalyzed direct carbonylative synthesis of phthalimide motifs from N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)benzamides has been developed. Various phthalimide derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields (up to 98%) by using 2-picolylamine as an efficient directing group and benzene-1,3,5-triyl triformate (TFBen) as a convenient CO surrogate.