Coupling of Heteroaryl Halides with Chlorodifluoroacetamides and Chlorodifluoroacetate by Nickel Catalysis.

A nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of heteroaryl halides with chlorodifluoroacetamides and chlorodifluoroacetate has been developed. The combination of NiCl2 ⋅ DME with 4,4'-diNon-bpy, co-ligand PPh3 , and additive LiCl renders the catalytic system efficient for the synthesis of medicinal interest heteroaryldifluoroacetamides. The application of the method leads to short and highly efficient synthesis of biologically active molecules, providing a facile route for applications in medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry.

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of N-thiazol-4-yl-salicylamides, a new family of anti-oomycete compounds.

A novel class of experimental fungicides has been discovered, which consists of special N-thiazol-4-yl-salicylamides. They originated from amide reversion of lead structures from the patent literature and are highly active against important phytopathogens, such as Phytophthora infestans (potato and tomato late blight), Plasmopara viticola (grapevine downy mildew) and Pythium ultimum (damping-off disease). Structure-activity relationship studies revealed the importance of a phenolic or enolic hydroxy function in the ß-position of a carboxamide. An efficient synthesis route has been worked out, which for the first time employs the carbonyldiimidazole-mediated Lossen rearrangement in the field of thiazole carboxylic acids.

Trifluoromethylation of arenediazonium salts with fluoroform-derived CuCF3 in aqueous media.

A new protocol has been developed for trifluoromethylation of arenediazonium salts with moisture-sensitive CuCF3 (from fluoroform) in aqueous media. The reaction is governed by a radical mechanism, tolerates a broad variety of functional groups, and is applicable to the synthesis of complex, polyfunctionalized molecules.

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of quinolin-6-yloxyacetamides, a novel class of tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

A novel class of experimental fungicides has been discovered, which consists of special quinolin-6-yloxyacetamides. They are highly active against important phytopathogens, such as Phytophthora infestans (potato and tomato late blight), Mycosphaerella graminicola (wheat leaf blotch) and Uncinula necator (grape powdery mildew). Their fungicidal activity is due to their ability to inhibit fungal tubulin polymerization, leading to microtubule destabilization. An efficient synthesis route has been worked out, which allows the diverse substitution of four identified key positions across the molecular scaffold.