Sulfur-Mediated Decarboxylative Amidation of Cinnamic Acids via C═C Bond Cleavage.

A new strategy for the synthesis of amides has been developed using sulfur-mediated decarboxylative coupling of cinnamic acids with amines via oxidative cleavage of the C═C bond.

A regioselective synthesis of ß-difluoromethoxy vinyl sulfones via O-difluoromethylation of ß-ketosulfones using sodium chlorodifluoroacetate.

A practical synthesis of new ß-difluoromethoxy vinyl sulfones has been explored by O-difluoromethylation of ß-ketosulfones using the inexpensive and easily workable sodium chlorodifluoroacetate as a difluorocarbene precursor. The strategy is convenient and regioselective, and features an adequate substrate scope and functional group tolerance.

Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H Biarylation of 8-Methyl Quinolines with Cyclic Diaryliodonium Salts to Access Functionalized Biaryls and Fluorene Derivatives.

Herein, we have developed the cyclic diaryliodonium salts as biarylating agents in the C(sp3)-H functionalization using 8-methyl quinoline as the intrinsic directing group. The oxidant-free reaction produces a vast array of the biarylated products with iodo functionality that can be further functionalized. Additionally, intramolecular C(sp3)-H functionalization in a stepwise manner under palladium-catalyzed conditions produced the fluorene derivatives in excellent yields.

Copper-catalyzed cascade reaction of tryptamines with diazo compounds to access hexahydropyrroloindoline derivatives.

A domino reaction sequence of cyclopropanation/ring-opening/iminium cyclization of tryptamine derivatives with donor-acceptor diazo compounds is developed to furnish pyrroloindolines, creating three consecutive stereogenic centers in a single step. The copper-catalyzed reaction provides pyrroloindolines at room-temperature with good substrate scope.

Regiodivergent cascade cyclization/alkoxylation of allenamides via N-protecting group driven rearrangement to access indole and indoline derivatives.

A mild, palladium-catalyzed domino Heck-cyclization/alkoxylation sequence of aryl halide tethered allenamides is described, providing regiodivergent indole and indoline derivatives controlled by the N-protecting group. This room temperature reaction provided a functionalizable olefinic moiety with broad substrate scope. Preliminary mechanistic studies support the rearrangement of an indoline-derived intermediate to indoles with the N-acetyl allenamides forming free (NH) indoles.

Transfer hydrogenation of pyridinium and quinolinium species using ethanol as a hydrogen source to access saturated N-heterocycles.

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (TH) for the reduction of heterocycles is an emerging strategy for accessing biologically active saturated N-heterocycles. Herein, we report a TH protocol that utilizes ethanol as a renewable hydrogen source and an Ir catalyst for the reduction of quinolines and pyridines. The reaction is promoted by simple amides as ligands.

Dicarbofunctionalization of unactivated alkenes by palladium-catalyzed domino Heck/intermolecular direct hetero arylation with heteroarenes.

A palladium-catalyzed domino Heck/intermolecular direct hetero arylation sequence of unactivated alkenes was developed, providing 1,2,3-triazole containing bisheterocycles bearing all-carbon quaternary centers with yields of 25-90%. The protocol was extended to 1,3,4-oxadiazoles as well. The installed triazole was further exploited for late-stage functionalizations, and the mechanistic studies indicate the involvement of C-H activation.