Nickel‐Catalyzed Directed Benzylation of Ortho C−H Bonds in Aromatic Amides through C−H/C−N Cleavage

Abstract The cleavage of both sp 2 C−H and C−N bonds by a nickel‐catalyzed reaction of aromatic amides containing an 8‐aminoquinoline moiety with benzyl ammonium salts is reported. A wide variety of functional groups are tolerated in the reaction. Preliminary mechanistic investigations indicate that the reaction probably proceeds through a Ni I /Ni III catalytic pathway. This Ni‐catalyzed procedure provides an alternative approach to construct diarylmethane derivatives.