A direct cobalt-catalyzed oxidative coupling between C(sp2)–H in unactivated benzamides and C(sp3)–H in simple alkanes, ethers and toluene derivatives was explored. This protocol achieves direct C–C formation without using alkyl or aryl halide surrogates and exhibits high practicality with ample substrate scope. The method provides a new way to construct linear and five- or six-membered ring moieties in bioactive molecules.
