Cobalt-Catalyzed Borylative Reduction of Azobenzenes to Hydrazobenzenes via a Diborylated-Hydrazine Intermediate.

Cobalt-catalyzed borylative reduction of azobenzenes using pinacolborane is developed. The simple cobalt chloride catalyst and reaction conditions make this protocol attractive for hydrazobenzene synthesis. This borylative reduction shows good functional group compatibility and can be readily scaled up to the gram scale. Preliminary mechanistic studies clarified the proton source of the hydrazine products. This cobalt-catalyzed azobenzene borylative reaction provides a practical protocol to prepare synthetically useful diborylated hydrazines.

Lanthanide/B(C6F5)3-Promoted Hydroboration Reduction of Indoles and Quinolines with Pinacolborane.

We have developed a lanthanide/B(C6F5)3-promoted hydroboration reduction of indoles and quinolines with pinacolborane (HBpin). This reaction provides streamlined access to a range of nitrogen-containing compounds in moderate to excellent yields. Large-scale synthesis and further transformations to bioactive compounds indicate that the method has potential practical applications. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that amine additives promote the formation of indole-borane intermediates, and the lanthanide/B(C6F5)3-promoted hydroboration reduction proceeds via hydroboration of indole-borane intermediates with HBpin and in situ-formed BH3 species, followed by the protodeborylation process.

Iodine-Mediated Oxidative Annulation of ß,γ-Unsaturated Hydrazones in Dimethyl Sulfoxide: A Strategy to Build 1,6-Dihydropyridazines and Pyrroles.

Simple, commercially available iodine was successfully employed as a highly efficient and chemoselective catalyst for the oxidative annulation of ß,γ-unsaturated hydrazones to produce 1,6-dihydropyridazines under mild conditions for the first time. Interestingly, when active ß,γ-unsaturated hydrazone compounds containing electron-donating groups, such as furyl, thienyl, and cycloalkyl, were used, pyrroles were obtained. A gram-scale preparation experiment and further derivatization of pyridazines demonstrated the potential applicability of our synthesis method. Experimental studies and density functional theory calculations unveiled the origin of the chemoselectivity determining the formation of different products.

Hexamethyldisilazane Lithium (LiHMDS)-Promoted Hydroboration of Alkynes and Alkenes with Pinacolborane.

Lithium-promoted hydroboration of alkynes and alkenes using commercially available hexamethyldisilazane lithium as a precatalyst and HBpin as a hydride source has been developed. This method will be appealing for organic synthesis because of its remarkable substrate tolerance and good yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that the hydroboration proceeds through the in situ-formed BH3 species, which acts to drive the turnover of the hydroboration of alkynes and alkenes.

Selective Synthesis of ß-Ketonitriles via Catalytic Carbopalladation of Dinitriles.

A practical, convenient, and highly selective method of synthesizing ß-ketonitriles from the Pd-catalyzed addition of organoboron reagents to dinitriles has been developed. This method provides excellent functional-group tolerance, a broad scope of substrates, and the convenience of using commercially available substrates. The method is expected to show further utility in future synthetic procedures.

Mg2TiO4 spinel modified by nitrogen doping as a Visible-Light-Active photocatalyst for antibacterial activity.

Nitrogen doped Mg2TiO4 spinel, i.e. Mg2TiO4-xNy, has been synthesized and investigated as a photocatalyst for antibacterial activity. Mg2TiO4-xNy demonstrates superior photocatalytic activity for E. coli disinfection under visible light illumination (λ ≥ 400 nm). Complete disinfection of E. coli at a bacterial cell density of 1.0 × 107 CFU mL-1 can be achieved within merely 60 min. Mg2TiO4-xNy is capable of generating superoxide radicals (•O2 -) under visible light illumination which are the reactive oxygen species (ROSs) for bacteria disinfection. DFT calculations have verified the importance of nitrogen dopants in improving the visible light sensitivity of Mg2TiO4-xNy. The facile synthesis, low cost, good biocompatibility and high disinfection activity of Mg2TiO4-xNy warrant promising applications in the field of water purification and antibacterial products.

Synthesis of 3-Selenylindoles through Organoselenium-Promoted Selenocyclization of 2-Vinylaniline.

A novel metal-free one-pot protocol for the synthesis of potential biologically active molecules 3-selenylindoles via intramolecular cyclization/selenylation with simple 2-vinylaniline has been developed with moderate to good yield, thus representing it as a facile route to diverse substitution patterns around the indole core. The reaction proceeded smoothly with a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. Moreover, the present synthetic route could be readily scaled up to gram quantity without difficulty. Mechanistic studies have revealed that in situ formed selenium electrophile species may be the key intermediate for the selenocyclization process.

Syntheses of Pyrroles, Pyridines, and Ketonitriles via Catalytic Carbopalladation of Dinitriles.

The first example of the Pd-catalyzed addition of organoboron reagents to dinitriles, as an efficient means of preparing 2,5-diarylpyrroles and 2,6-diarylpyridines, has been discussed here. Furthermore, the highly selective carbopalladation of dinitriles with organoboron reagents to give long-chain ketonitriles has been developed as well. Based on the broad scope of substrates, excellent functional group tolerance, and use of commercially available substrates, the Pd-catalyzed addition reaction of arylboronic acid and dinitriles is expected to be significant in future synthetic procedures.

Pd-Catalyzed Approach for Assembling 9-Arylacridines via a Cascade Tandem Reaction of 2-(Arylamino)benzonitrile with Arylboronic Acids in Water.

A novel palladium-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of 9-arylacridines via tandem reaction of 2-(arylamino)benzonitrile with arylboronic acids in water has been developed with good functional group tolerance. The present synthetic route could be readily scaled up to gram quantity without difficulty. This methodology was further extended to the synthesis of a 4'-OH derivative, which showed estrogenic biological activity. Preliminary mechanistic experiments showed that this transformation involves a nucleophilic addition of aryl palladium species to the nitrile to generate an aryl ketone intermediate followed by an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation and dehydration to acridines.

Tandem addition/cyclization for synthesis of 2-aroyl benzofurans and 2-aroyl indoles by carbopalladation of nitriles.

The first example of the palladium-catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization of 2-(2-acylphenoxy)acetonitriles with arylboronic acids has been developed, providing a new strategy for the synthesis of 2-aroyl benzofurans with excellent chemoselectivity and wide functional group compatibility. Preliminary mechanistic experiments indicate that this tandem process involves sequential nucleophilic addition generating 2-(2-acylphenoxy)-1-phenylethan-1-one followed by an intramolecular cyclization. This methodology has also been applied to the synthesis of 2-aroyl indoles and the potent CYP19 inhibitor 1-(benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl)methyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole.

Pd-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of 2-Aminostyryl Nitriles with Arylboronic Acids: Synthesis of 2-Arylquinolines.

A novel palladium-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of 2-arylquinolines via tandem reaction of 2-aminostyryl nitriles with arylboronic acids has been developed with good functional group tolerance. The presented approach offers a new synthetic pathway toward the core structures of 2-arylquinolines compared to classical condensation reaction of (E)-2-aminostyryl aryl ketones. Moreover, the present synthetic route could be readily scaled up to gram quantity without difficulty. Preliminary mechanistic experiments showed that this transformation involves a nucleophilic addition of aryl palladium species to the nitrile to generate an aryl ketone intermediate followed by an intramolecular cyclization and dehydration to quinoline ring.

Selenium-Catalyzed Oxidative C-H Amination of ( E)-3-(Arylamino)-2-styrylquinazolin-4(3 H)-ones: A Metal-Free Synthesis of 1,2-Diarylpyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazolin-9(1 H)-ones.

A novel metal-free catalysis protocol for the synthesis of 1,2-diarylpyrazolo[5,1- b]quinazolin-9(1 H)-ones via intramolecular oxidative C-H amination of ( E)-3-(arylamino)-2-styrylquinazolin-4(3 H)-ones has been developed in moderate to good yield. The method shows good functional group tolerance. The presented approach offers a new synthetic pathway toward the core structures of 2,3-fused quinazolinones. Moreover, the present synthetic route can be readily scaled up to gram quantity without difficulty. A possible mechanism involves a seleniranium ion followed by three-membered ring opening to form the C-N bond.

Efficient Tandem Addition/Cyclization for Access to 2,4-Diarylquinazolines via Catalytic Carbopalladation of Nitriles.

The first example of the palladium-catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization of 2-(benzylidenamino)benzonitriles with arylboronic acids has been developed. This transformation features good functional group tolerance and provides an alternative synthetic pathway to access 2,4-diarylquinazolines in moderate to good yields. A plausible mechanism for the formation of 2,4-diarylquinazolines involving sequential nucleophilic addition followed by an intramolecular cyclization is proposed.

Direct halosulfenylation of benzo[b]furans: a metal-free synthesis of 3-halo-2-thiobenzo[b]furans.

The first example of the direct halosulfenylation of benzo[b]furans with commercially available disulfides and N-halosuccinimides has been achieved, providing an efficient metal-free synthetic pathway to access diverse 3-halo-2-thiobenzo[b]furans in moderate to excellent yields. In particular, a halogen (e.g., bromo or iodo) substituent on the benzo[b]furan ring is amenable for further synthetic elaborations thereby broadening the diversity of the products.

Pd-Catalyzed tandem reaction of N-(2-cyanoaryl)benzamides with arylboronic acids: synthesis of quinazolines.

The synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted quinazolines by a palladium-catalyzed reaction of arylboronic acids with N-(2-cyanoaryl)benzamides has been developed with moderate to excellent yields. The method shows good functional group tolerance. In particular, halogen and hydroxyl substituents, which are amenable for further synthetic elaborations, are well tolerated. Moreover, the present synthetic route could be readily scaled up to gram quantity without difficulty. The mechanism possibly involves nucleophilic addition to the nitrile function, forming an imine intermediate followed by an intramolecular addition to the amide and dehydration to the quinazoline ring.

Efficient Approach to Carbinol Derivatives through Palladium-Catalyzed Base-Free Addition of Aryltriolborates to Aldehydes.

Palladium-catalyzed base-free addition of aryltriolborates to aldehydes has been developed, leading to a wide range of carbinol derivatives in good to excellent yields. The efficiency of this transformation was demonstrated by compatibility with a wide range of functional groups. The present synthetic route to carbinol derivatives could be readily scaled up to gram quantity without difficulty. Thus, this method represents a simple and practical procedure to access carbinol derivatives.

Lanthanide-Catalyzed Reversible Alkynyl Exchange by Carbon-Carbon Single-Bond Cleavage Assisted by a Secondary Amino Group.

Lanthanide-catalyzed alkynyl exchange through C-C single-bond cleavage assisted by a secondary amino group is reported. A lanthanide amido complex is proposed as a key intermediate, which undergoes unprecedented reversible ß-alkynyl elimination followed by alkynyl exchange and imine reinsertion. The in situ homo- and cross-dimerization of the liberated alkyne can serve as an additional driving force to shift the metathesis equilibrium to completion. This reaction is formally complementary to conventional alkyne metathesis and allows the selective transformation of internal propargylamines into those bearing different substituents on the alkyne terminus in moderate to excellent yields under operationally simple reaction conditions.

Cycloamidination of Aminoalkenes with Nitriles: Synthesis of Substituted 2-Imidazolines and Tetrahydropyrimidines.

The first catalytic cycloamidination of aminoalkenes with nitriles has been achieved by using rare-earth complexes. This reaction is equivalent to the desired intramolecular hydroamination of alkenylamidines, and allows a new direct access to substituted 2-imidazolines and tetrahydropyrimidines in high yields under operationally simple reaction conditions. Moreover, the methodology is also efficient for synthesis of symmetric and unsymmetric bridged diimidazolines. Compared with the traditional stepwise-mediated synthetic approaches, the present method avoids the use of additives and harsh reaction conditions, and thus leads to a completely different product distribution. Mechanistic data suggest that the reaction involves the initial NH activation by lanthanide complex followed by nitrile insertion into a Ln-N bond to form an amidinate lanthanide intermediate which undergoes the cyclization.

Ln[N(SiMe3 )2 ]3 -catalyzed cross-diinsertion of C≡N/C≡C into an N≡H bond: facile synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted imidazoles from propargylamines and nitriles.

A lanthanide-catalyzed sequential insertion of CN and CC into an NH bond is presented. The convenient reaction, which proceeds under mild conditions, is an efficient method for preparing 1,2,4-trisubstituted imidazoles directly from readily available propargylamines and nitriles.

Finite element analysis of fixation effect for femoral neck fracture under different fixation configurations.

In this study, the biomechanical differences among three internal fixation configurations for treatment of Pauwels type II and III femoral neck fractures were analyzed. Using finite element analysis, the femur displacement and stress distributions of the internal fixation device and fracture section were obtained for different patients and movement conditions. The results show that patients with osteoporosis are more prone to femoral varus and femoral neck shortening, and the fracture probability of the device for these patients is higher than that for patients with normal bone. The treatment effect of the inverted-triangle screw (ITS) fixation and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) fixation is better than that of dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation. The ITS fixation is more suitable for the treatment of the normal bone patients with Pauwels II femur neck fracture. However, the PFNA fixation has better biomechanical advantages and better capability for anti-femoral neck shortening. Therefore, it is suitable for the treatment of femoral neck fracture patients with osteoporosis.