Direct method for carbon-carbon bond formation: The functional group tolerant cobalt-catalyzed alkylation of aryl halides

(Figure Presented). A new protocol for the direct cobaltcatalyzed alkylation of aryl halides has been developed that proceeds smoothly in the presence of phosphanes or bipyridines as ligands with a variety of alkyl halides, including challenging alkyl electrophiles bearing β hydrogen atoms (see scheme). Sensitive functional groups are tolerated on both coupling partners, thus, significantly extending the general scope of transition-metal-catalyzed alkylation of aryl halides.