Redox-Neutral Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Annulation of α,β-Unsaturated Oxime Ether with Alkyne: One-Step Access to Multisubstituted Pyridine.

A redox neutral Co(III)-catalyzed annulation of α,β-unsaturated oxime ether with alkyne has been reported. Multisubstituted pyridines were synthesized in good yields without the use of any heavy metal oxidants. The developed methodology tolerates a variety of functional groups. Notably, this transformation has been applied to the late-stage modification of the bioactive molecule dehydropregnenolone.