Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed, DMSO‐Involved, and TFA‐Controlled Regioselective C−H Functionalization of Anilines with Alkynes for Specific Assembly of 3‐Arylquinolines

Herein, a novel cobalt(III)‐catalyzed and TFA‐controlled [3+2+1] cyclization of diverse anilines and terminal alkynes has been realized by using DMSO as both the solvent and the C 1 source, which led to the specific synthesis of privileged 3‐arylquinolines in one pot and regioselectively. Mechanistic investigations revealed that this versatile transformation might be initiated with a C−H activation process and with a 2‐vinylbenzenamine species as the active intermediate.