Scope of amides 5 for the manganese-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation^a.

^aReaction conditions: substrate 5a–5i (0.5 mmol), Mn–IV (2 mol%), KOtBu (6 mol%), toluene (1 mL), iPrOH (1 mL), 100 °C, 12 h. The yield was determined by GC using mesitylene as the internal standard.

^bIsolated yield.

^c120 °C, 12 h.