Table 2. Substrates scope varying functional groups R¹ at the aromatic ring ^a .

Entry	Substrates	Products	Yield b (%)
1			89
2			76 (85 c ) d
3			74 d
4			65 d
5			50
6			75
7			71

^aReaction conditions: N-tosylhydrazone (1a–g) (0.1 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), LiO^tBu (0.12 mmol, 1.2 equiv.), [Co(TPP)] (5 mol%), benzene (2 mL), 60 °C, overnight.

^bIsolated yields after column chromatography (average of two separate experiments).

^cIsolated yield of experiment performed with 1.0 mmol substrate.

^dYields of these three entries based on the major E-isomer, using an E/Z-mixture containing 6–12% of the non-productive Z-isomer.