Iridium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer: synthesis of substituted benzofurans, benzothiophenes, and indoles from benzyl alcohols.

An iridium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer has been developed in the presence of p-benzoquinone, allowing the synthesis of a diversity of substituted benzofurans, benzothiophenes, and indoles from substituted benzylic alcohols.

Ring expansion of cyclic ß-amino alcohols induced by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride: synthesis of cyclic amines with a tertiary fluorine at C3.

As the replacement of a hydrogen atom by a fluorine atom in a compound can have an important impact on its biological properties, the development of methods allowing the introduction of a fluorine atom is of great importance. The scope and limitations of the ring expansion of cyclic 2-hydroxymethyl amines induced by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) to produce cyclic ß-fluoro amines was studied as well as the enantioselectivity of the process.

Monoalkylation of acetonitrile by primary alcohols catalyzed by iridium complexes.

The monoalkylation of acetonitrile by primary alcohols was achieved in a one-pot sequence in the presence of iridium catalysts. A diversity of nitriles has been obtained from aryl- and alkyl-methanols in excellent yield.