Full Selectivity Control in Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed C-H Alkylations by Switching of the C-H Activation Mechanism

Selectivity control in hydroarylation-based C-H alkylation has been dominated by steric interactions. A conceptually distinct strategy that exploits the programmed switch in the C-H activation mechanism by means of cobalt catalysis is presented, which sets the stage for convenient C-H alkylations with unactivated alkenes. Detailed mechanistic studies provide compelling evidence for a programmable switch in the C-H activation mechanism from a linear-selective ligand-to-ligand hydrogen transfer to a branched-selective base-assisted internal electrophilic-type substitution.