Cobalt-catalysed C–H carbonylative cyclisation of aliphatic amides

A cobalt-catalysed C–H carbonylation of aliphatic carboxamide derivatives is described, employing commercially available Co(ii)-salts in the presence of a silver oxidant. This operationally simple process utilises an atmospheric pressure of CO and generates a range of substituted succinimide products bearing diverse functional groups that can be successfully accessed via this methodology.