Co2(CO)8 as a convenient in situ CO source for the direct synthesis of benzamides from aryl halides (Br/I) via aminocarbonylation

•Direct one pot synthesis of benzamides from wide variety of aryl halides.•Cobalt carbonyl as an in situ CO source in microwave irradiation without CO gas.•This is a functional group tolerant method.

A fast, mild, and functional group tolerant method for the direct synthesis of benzamides from aryl halides (Br, I) via aminocarbonylation, using solid Co2(CO)8 as a convenient CO source, has been demonstrated. The developed method is applicable to a wide variety of 1° and cyclic and acyclic 2° amines. Nitro substituted (o, m and p) aryl halides have easily been converted to the corresponding benzamides, without the reduction of the nitro group, in high yields using this in situ carbonylation methodology under microwave irradiation.

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