Formal Lossen Rearrangement/[3+2] Annulation Cascade Catalyzed by a Modified Cyclopentadienyl RhIII Complex.

It has been established that a cyclopentadienyl RhIII complex with two phenyl groups and a pendant amide moiety catalyzes the formal Lossen rearrangement/[3+2] annulation cascade of N-pivaloyl benzamides and acrylamides with alkynes leading to substituted indoles and pyrroles. Mechanistic studies revealed that this cascade reaction proceeds via not the Lossen rearrangement to form anilides or enamides but C-H bond cleavage, alkyne insertion, and the formal Lossen rearrangement.

Fulvene Synthesis by Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed [2+2+1] Cycloaddition: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Tunable Cyclopentadienyl Rhodium(III) Complexes with Pendant Amides.

It has been established that a RhI+ /segphos complex catalyzes the [2+2+1] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes with cyclopropylideneacetamides to give substituted fulvenes in good yields. The reductive complexation of the product fulvenes with RhCl3 in EtOH furnished the corresponding dinuclear cyclopentadienyl RhIII complexes bearing a pendant amide moiety. These RhIII complexes were highly active catalysts for oxidative annulation and cyclization through C(sp2 )-H and C(sp3 )-H functionalization.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of 1,6-Enynes with Cyclopropylideneacetamides.

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/H8-BINAP complex catalyzes the asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,6-enynes with cyclopropylideneacetamides to produce spirocyclohexenes in excellent enantioselectivity with retaining cyclopropane rings.

Rapid Synthesis of Thiophene-Based, Organic Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) by a One-Pot, Four-Component Coupling Approach.

This one-pot, four-component coupling approach (Suzuki-Miyaura coupling/C-H direct arylation/Knoevenagel condensation) was developed for the rapid synthesis of thiophene-based organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Seven thiophene-based, organic dyes of various donor structures with/without the use of a 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) moiety were successfully synthesized in good yields based on a readily available thiophene boronic acid pinacol ester scaffold (one-pot, 3-step, 35-61%). Evaluation of the photovoltaic properties of the solar cells that were prepared using the synthesized dyes revealed that the introduction of an EDOT structure beside a cyanoacrylic acid moiety improved the short-circuit current (Jsc) while decreasing the fill factor (FF). The donor structure significantly influenced the open-circuit voltage (Voc), the FF, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). The use of a n-hexyloxyphenyl amine donor, and our originally developed, rigid, and nonplanar donor, both promoted good cell performance (η=5.2-5.6%).