TFA-Promoted Cascade Sulfonylation/Rearrangement/Cyclization of 1,5-Diynols and Sodium Sulfinates to Construct Sulfonylated Benzo[b]fluorenes.

A novel conversion of 1,5-diynols into sulfonylated benzo[b]fluorenes is reported by a TFA-promoted cascade cyclization with sodium sulfinates under mild conditions. This strategy provides an efficient and practical approach for accessing various sulfonated benzo[b]fluorenes in moderate to excellent yields under metal-free conditions. On the basis of the control experimental results and density functional theory calculations, a possible cascade transformation mechanism consisting of the dehydration of propargylic alcohols, sulfonylation, allenylation, and Schmittel-type cyclization is proposed. It is worth noting that TFA played an important role in this cascade cyclization, which promoted C-SO2R bond cleavage in a propargylic sulfone intermediate to form allenyl sulfones, followed by Schmittel-type cyclization to give the target product.

Electrochemical Arene Radical Cation Promoted Spirocyclization of Biaryl Ynones: Access to Alkoxylated Spiro[5,5]trienones.

Herein, a novel electrochemical arene radical cation promoted dearomative spirocyclization of biaryl ynones with alcohols is described, providing a conceptually novel transformation mode for producing diverse alkoxylated spiro[5,5]trienones. The catalyst- and chemical-oxidant-free spirocyclization protocol features broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the generation of arene radical cation via anodic single-electron oxidation is crucial, with sequential 6-endo-dig cyclization, dissociation of hemiketal, anodic oxidation, and nucleophilic attack of alcohols.

Cascade Cyclization of 1,5-Diynols and (RO)2P(O)SH to Construct Benzo[b]fluorenyl S-Alkyl Phosphorothioates under Catalyst-Free Conditions.

An efficient and practical cascade cyclization of 1,5-diynols with (RO)2P(O)SH as the acid promoter and nucleophile under mild conditions was developed. A variety of highly substituted benzo[b]fluorenyl-containing S-alkyl phosphorothioates were successfully constructed in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, this protocol exhibited good functional group tolerance, a broad substrate scope, and potential practical applications, with water as the only byproduct. The reaction proceeded with allenyl thiophosphate as a key intermediate, followed by a Schmittel-type cyclization process to produce the target product.

Electrochemical 1,3-Alkyloxylimidation of Arylcyclopropane Radical Cations: Four-Component Access to Imide Derivatives.

Herein, a general electrochemical radical-cation-mediated four-component ring-opening 1,3-alkyloxylimidation of arylcyclopropanes, acetonitrile, carboxylic acids, and alcohols is described, providing a facile and sustainable approach to quickly construct structurally diverse imide derivatives from easily available raw materials in an operationally simple undivided cell. This metal-catalyst- and oxidant-free single-electron oxidation strategy offers a green alternative for the formation of highly reactive cyclopropane-derived radical cations, and this protocol features a broad functional group tolerance.

Electrochemically enabled decyanative C(sp3)-H oxygenation of N-cyanomethylamines to formamides.

Selective oxygenation of C(sp3)-H bonds adjacent to nitrogen atoms is a highly attractive strategy for synthesizing various formamide derivatives while preserving the substrate skeletons. Herein, an environmentally benign electrochemically enabled decyanative C(sp3)-H oxygenation of N-cyanomethylamines using H2O as a carbonyl oxygen atom source is described, leading to the synthesis of a large class of formamides in good to excellent yields with a broad substrate scope under metal- and oxidant-free conditions. This electrochemical technology highlights the facile incorporation of N-formyl into some important bioactive molecules.

Design, synthesis, and herbicidal activity of indole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as potential transport inhibitor response 1 antagonists.

Auxins as an important class of phytohormones play essential roles in plant life cycle; therefore, developing compounds with auxin-like properties for plant growth regulation and weed control applications is of great significance. Herein, we reported the design, synthesis, and herbicidal activity evaluation of a series of novel indole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as auxin receptor protein TIR1 antagonists. Petri dish herbicidal activity assay demonstrated that most of the as-synthesized target compounds exhibited good-to-excellent inhibition effects (60-97% inhibitory rates) on roots and shoots of both dicotyledonous rape (B. napus) and monocotyledonous barnyard grass (E. crus-galli). The inhibition rates of compounds 10d and 10h reached up to 96% and 95% for the root of rape (B. napus) at 100 mg/L, and they also maintained 92% and 93% inhibition rates even if at 10 mg/L, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that the interactions between these synthesized target compounds and TIR1 protein include tight π-π stacking, hydrogen bond, and hydrophobic interactions. This work expands the range of auxin chemistry for the development of new auxin mimic herbicides.

Electro-/photocatalytic alkene-derived radical cation chemistry: recent advances in synthetic applications.

Alkene-derived radical cations are versatile reactive intermediates and have been widely applied in the construction of complex functionalized molecules and cyclic systems for chemical synthesis. Therefore, the synthetic application of these alkene-derived radical cations represents a powerful and green tool that can be used to achieve the functionalization of alkenes partially because the necessity of stoichiometric external chemical oxidants and/or hazardous reaction conditions is eliminated. This review summarizes the recent advances in the synthetic applications of the electro-/photochemical alkene-derived radical cations, emphasizing the key single-electron oxidation steps of the alkenes, the scope and limitations of the substrates, and the related reaction mechanisms. Using electrocatalysis and/or photocatalysis, single electron transfer (SET) oxidation of the CC bonds in the alkenes occurs, generating the alkene-derived radical cations, which sequentially enables the functionalization of translocated radical cations to occur in two ways: the first involves direct reaction with a nucleophile/radical or two molecules of nucleophiles to realize hydrofunctionalization, difunctionalization and cyclization; and the second involves the transformation of the alkene-derived radical cations into carbon-centered radicals using a base followed by radical coupling or oxidative nucleophilic coupling.

Electrochemical 1,2-Diarylation of Alkenes Enabled by Direct Dual C-H Functionalizations of Electron-Rich Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

A cobalt-promoted electrochemical 1,2-diarylation of alkenes with electron-rich aromatic hydrocarbons via direct dual C-H functionalizations is described, which employs a radical relay strategy to produce polyaryl-functionalized alkanes. Simply by using graphite rod cathode instead of platinum plate cathode, chemoselectivity of this radical relay strategy is shifted to the dehydrogenative [2+2+2] cycloaddition via 1,2-diarylation, annulation, and dehydrogenation cascades leading to complex 11,12-dihydroindolo[2,3-a]carbazoles. Mechanistical studies indicate that a key step for the radical relay processes is transformations of the aromatic hydrocarbons to the aryl sp2 -hybridized carbon-centered radicals via deprotonation of the corresponding aryl radical cation intermediates with bases.

Electrochemical Alkoxyhalogenation of Alkenes with Organohalides as the Halide Sources via Dehalogenation.

A general, ideal atom utilization electrochemical technology to enable alkene alkoxyhalogenation and organohalide dehalogenation in one pot is presented. This technology is highlighted by convergent strategy integrating several reactions, such as alkene alkoxyhalogenation, organohalide dehalogenation, and dehalogenation deuteration. Experimental data suggest that alkenes have the lowest oxidation potential, which lead to anodic conversion of the C═C bond to the radical cation intermediates, and cathodic transformations of organohalides, including alkyl and aryl halides, as the nucleophilic halogen sources.

Radical-mediated oxidative annulations of 1,n-enynes involving C-H functionalization.

The 1,n-enyne annulation reaction has emerged as one of the most powerful and straightforward tools to build carbo- and hetero-cyclic frameworks that are found in numerous natural products, pharmaceuticals and functional materials. Although the 1,n-enyne annulation methods have been well documented to date, there is a tremendous challenge with current methodologies for simultaneously incorporating external functional groups into the resulting cyclic systems. Recent advances in the radical-mediated oxidative 1,n-enyne annulation strategy involving C-H functionalization have been proven to be an ideal alternative to overcome these disadvantages. Such radical-mediated oxidative 1,n-enyne annulation can be accomplished by two different C-H functionalization modes: One proceeds through generation of the carbon-centered radicals from C-H bond direct oxidative cleavage and their subsequent addition across the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond or C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C bond enabling the 1,n-enyne annulation; the other employs the C-H bonds as the radical acceptors to terminate the initial oxidative radical-triggered annulation of 1,n-enyne. In addition, during many annulation processes the inherent C-H bonds of 1,n-enynes were functionalized. Here, we summarize recent progress in radical-mediated oxidative annulations of 1,n-enynes involving two different conceptual C-H functionalization strategies and the inherent C-H functionalization with an emphasis on the scope, limitations and mechanisms of these different reactions.

Electrochemical dehydrogenative cross-coupling of two anilines: facile synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls.

A new, general ortho/para-selective anodic dehydrogenative cross-coupling of two aryl amines, naphthalen-2-amine derivatives and anilines, is described. This electrochemical protocol assembles a wide range of unsymmetrical biaryls in good to excellent yields under mild, additional-metal-catalyst-free, oxidant-free conditions with excellent selectivity, broad substrate scope, and wide functional group tolerance. This electrochemical technology is highlighted with facile incorporation of important pharmacophores into the resulting biaryls, and is applicable to the homocoupling of anilines for producing symmetrical biaryls.

Silver-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkyletherification of unactivated alkenes with α-bromoalkyl carbonyls: facile access to highly substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans.

A new, general silver-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkyletherification of unactivated olefinic ketones with primary, secondary and tertiary α-bromoalkyl carbonyls promoted by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and Et3N has been developed. Through the cooperative action of Ag2O, TBHP and Et3N, the reaction enables the construction of highly valuable quaternary-carbon-possessing 2,3-dihydrofuran frameworks using a concomitant intramolecular annulation strategy.

Decarboxylative [4+2] annulation of arylglyoxylic acids with internal alkynes using the anodic ruthenium catalysis.

A new electrochemical decarboxylative [4+2] annulation of arylglyoxylic acids with internal alkynes involving C-H functionalization by means of a cooperative anode and ruthenium catalysis is presented. This reaction represents a mechanistically novel strategy as an ideal supplement to the decarboxylative [4+2] annulation methodology by employing an electrooxidative process to avoid the use of an additional external oxidizing reagent and utilizing H2O as the carboxyl oxygen atom source to be engaged in the synthesis of 1H-isochromen-1-ones.

Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed electrooxidative [4+2] annulation of benzylic alcohols with internal alkynes: entry to isocoumarins.

A new ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed electrooxidative [4+2] annulation of primary benzylic alcohols with internal alkynes is described, which enables benzylic alcohols as weakly directing group precursors to access isocoumarins via multiple C-H functionalization. The reaction works well with a broad substrate scope, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and incorporates practically the isocoumarin unit into diverse bioactive molecules. Mechanistic studies indicate that activation of aryl C(sp2)-H bonds is achieved through the generation of the active benzoyloxy-Ru(ii) intermediates via oxidation of benzylic alcohols using an electrooxidative Ru(ii) catalyst.