Efficient cobalt-catalyzed C–N cross-coupling reaction between benzamide and aryl iodide in water

A practical and efficient strategy for the N-arylation of benzamide catalysed by a Co(C2O4)·2H2O/dmeda system in water is reported. Under the optimized conditions, a wide variety of N-arylated products were obtained in good yields (up to 92%) using substituted aryl iodides.