Pd (II)-catalyzed β-C (sp3)− H carbonylation of N-arylamides under CO (1 atm) has been achieved. Following amide-directed C (sp3)− H cleavage and insertion of CO into the resulting [Pd (II)− C (sp3)] bond, intramolecular C− N reductive elimination gave the corresponding succinimides, which could be readily converted to 1, 4-dicarbonyl compounds. This method was found to be effective with substrates containing α-hydrogen ...
