Reduction-Specified Coupling Reactions of Nitroarenes by Heterogeneous Cobalt Catalysis.

The in-depth study on reduction-specified coupling reactions of the nitroarenes by heterogeneous cobalt catalysis opens a door for diversified syntheses of functional N-containing molecules. Guided by the structure-function relationship of heterogeneous materials, rational design of nano-catalysts can effectively regulate the routes of organic reactions. Precise transformation of the intermediates generated during the nitroarene reduction with a suitable nano-catalyst is a promising way to develop new tandem reactions, and to synthesize structurally novel compounds that are of difficult access with the conventional approaches.

Domino-Fluorination-Protodefluorination Enables Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling of α-Oxocarboxylic Acids with Styrene via Photoredox Catalysis.

Domino-fluorination-protodefluorination decarboxylative cross-coupling of α-keto acids with styrene has been developed via photoredox catalysis. The critical part of this strategy is the formation of the carbon-fluorine (C-F) bond by the capture of a carbon-centered radical intermediate, which will overcome side reactions during the styrene radical functionalization process. Experimental studies have provided evidence indicating a domino-fluorination-protodefluorination pathway with α-keto acid initiating the photoredox cycle. The present catalytic protocol also affords a novel approach for the construction of α,ß-unsaturated ketones under mild conditions.

Kinetic Resolution of Helicenols via Palladium-Catalyzed Atroposelective C-C Bond Cleavage/Ring-Opening Reaction.

Helicenes represent a class of inherently chiral structures that lack conventional chiral elements, such as stereogenic centers, chiral axes, or plane. The asymmetric synthesis of these helical compounds can be particularly challenging as a result of their pronounced molecular strain. In this study, we report a palladium-catalyzed atroposelective carbon-carbon bond cleavage reaction of helical tertiary alcohols. Because the helical alcohols are configurationally stable, the reaction proceeded through a kinetic resolution pathway, resulting in achieving optically active helicenols alongside the sterically hindered axially chiral products.

Synthesis of Atropisomers with Biaryl and Vinylaryl Chirality via Pd-Catalyzed Point-to-Axial Chirality Transfer Ring-Opening Reaction.

A palladium-catalyzed domino cyclization/ring-opening reaction between 8H-indeno[1,2-c]thiophen-8-ols and N-(2-bromophenyl)propiolamide derivatives is reported. The reaction features a highly stereospecific point chirality to axial chirality transfer process, which enables the synthesis of molecules containing two chiral axes from the compounds with only one stereogenic center.

Atroposelective Kinetic Resolution of 8H-Indeno[1,2-c]thiophen-8-ols via Pd-Catalyzed C-C Bond Cleavage Reaction.

The present work demonstrates a palladium-catalyzed kinetic resolution/ring-opening reaction of 8H-indeno[1,2-c]thiophen-8-ols. The reaction proceeds in a highly regioselective manner, and both optically active thiophene-phenyl atropisomers and stereogenic 8H-indeno[1,2-c]thiophen-8-ols were obtained with high enantiomeric excesses. The synthetic applications of the obtained thiophenyl atropisomers were briefly investigated.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Hydroacylation of Olefins Employing Carboxylic Acids and Hydrosilanes.

A hydroacylation reaction of alkenes has been achieved employing readily available carboxylic acids as the acyl source and hydrosilanes as a hydrogen source via photoredox catalysis. The combination of both single electron transfer and hydrogen atom transfer steps has dramatically expanded new applications of carboxylic acids in organic synthesis. The protocol also features extremely mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance, affording a novel and convenient approach to hydroacylation of alkenes.