Thiourea dioxide promoted cobalt-catalyzed hydrolysis of imines: Dual activation via organocatalysis and metal catalysis

An unusual promoting effect of thiourea dioxide in the cobalt catalyzed hydrolysis of imines to the corresponding carbonyl compounds and amines under mild conditions is described. In the absence of thiourea dioxide the reaction does not proceed and unreacted imine is recovered at the end. This is the first report that describes the promoting effect of thiourea dioxide in metal catalyzed hydrolysis of imines without using acidic or basic conditions.