Trifluoromethylchlorosulfonylation of alkenes: evidence for an inner-sphere mechanism by a copper phenanthroline photoredox catalyst.

A visible-light-mediated procedure for the unprecedented trifluoromethylchlorosulfonylation of unactivated alkenes is presented. It uses [Cu(dap)2]Cl as catalyst, and contrasts with [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2, [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)]PF6, or eosin Y that exclusively give rise to trifluoromethylchlorination of the same alkenes. It is assumed that [Cu(dap)2]Cl plays a dual role, that is, acting both as an electron transfer reagent as well as coordinating the reactants in the bond forming processes.

Diboron-Catalyzed Dehydrative Amidation of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids with Amines.

Tetrakis(dimethylamido)diboron and tetrahydroxydiboron are herein reported as new catalysts for the synthesis of aryl amides by catalytic condensation of aromatic carboxylic acids with amines. The developed protocol is both simple and highly efficient over a broad range of substrates. This method thus represents an attractive approach for the use of diboron catalysts in the synthesis of amides without having to resort to stoichiometric or additional dehydrating agents.

Visible light sensitization of benzoyl azides: cascade cyclization toward oxindoles via a non-nitrene pathway.

Visible light sensitization of benzoyl azides was examined in reaction with N-phenylmethacrylamides to afford biologically important oxindoles and spirooxindoles via a cascade cyclization under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies suggested a non-nitrene pathway, where triplet benzoyl azides act as the reactive intermediate.