Co(iii)-catalyzed Z-selective oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling of alkenes with triisopropylsilylacetylene.

A Co(iii)-catalyzed direct oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling reaction of acrylamides with triisopropylsilylacetylene is presented. It is applicable to unsubstituted, internal and terminal acrylamides with a broad functionality tolerance. The feasibility of this protocol is successfully demonstrated by the late-stage alkynylation of a derivative of steroid drug Epristeride.