Cobalt-Catalyzed 1,4-Aryl Migration/Desulfonylation Cascade: Synthesis of α-Aryl Amides.

A cobalt-catalyzed 1,4-aryl migration/disulfonylation cascade applied to α-bromo N-sulfonyl amides was developed. The reaction was highly chemoselective, allowing the preparation of α-aryl amides possessing a variety of functional groups. The method was used as the key step to synthesize an alkaloid, (±)-deoxyeseroline. Mechanistic investigations suggest a radical process.