Synthesis of quinolinones with palladium-catalyzed oxidative annulation between acrylamides and arynes

An unprecedented palladium-catalyzed oxidative annulation of acrylamides with benzyne precursors has been successfully developed. By using this mild "N-H activation/Heck reaction" method, a wide variety of quinolinones were conveniently prepared in one step with high efficiency.

Stereo- and chemoselective cross-coupling between two electron-deficient acrylates: an efficient route to (Z,E)-muconate derivatives

A Ru-catalyzed direct oxidative cross-coupling reaction of acrylates was developed. It offers a straightforward and atom-economical protocol for the synthesis of functionalized (Z,E)-muconate derivatives in moderate to good yields with good stereo- and chemoselectivities. The conjugated muconates bearing differentiable terminal functionality can be selectively transformed into versatile synthetic intermediates widely used in organic synthesis.

Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C-N bond cleavage, 1,4-migration, sp3 C-H activation, and Heck reaction: four controllable diverse pathways depending on the judicious choice of the base and ligand

Diverse and controllable pathways induced by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction of N-vinylacetamides for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing products in reasonable to high yields via tuning the phosphine ligands and bases are reported. Domino reactions including unique β-N-Pd elimination, 1,4-Pd migration, or direct acyl C-H bond functionalization were found to be involved forming different products, respectively. Given the ability of using the same starting material to generate diverse products via completely different chemoselective processes, these current methodologies offer straightforward access to valuable nitrogen-containing products under mild reaction conditions as well as inspire the discovery of novel reactions.

Developing piperine towards TRPV1 and GABAA receptor ligands – synthesis of piperine analogs via Heck-coupling of conjugated dienes

Synthetic analogs of piperine, the pungent alkaloid of black pepper, were identified as selective ligands for either GABA_A or TRPV1 receptors.

Geminal bis(silane)-controlled regio- and stereoselective oxidative Heck reaction of enol ethers with terminal alkenes to give push–pull 1,3-dienes

A geminal bis(silane)-controlled regio- and stereoselective oxidative Heck reaction of enol ethers with terminal alkenes has been developed. The reaction proceeds with α,β-coupling regioselectivity to give push–pull Z,E-1,3-dienes in good yields.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H allylation of electron-deficient alkenes with allyl acetates

Rhodium-catalyzed C–H allylation of acrylamide derivatives with various allyl acetates was reported. The use of weakly coordinating directing group resulted in high reaction efficiency and excellent γ-selectivity. This reaction displays broad functional group tolerance, which opens a new synthetic pathway for the access of functionalized 1,4-diene skeletons.

Role of N-acyl amino acid ligands in Pd(II)-catalyzed remote C-H activation of tethered arenes

A combined experimental/computational study on the amino acid ligand-assisted Pd-catalyzed C-H bond activation reveals a mechanism in which the amino acid acts as both a dianionic bidentate ligand and a proton acceptor. This new model explains the effects of amino acids on reactivity and selectivity and unveils the dual roles of amino acids: stabilizing monomeric Pd complexes and serving as the internal base for proton abstraction.

Direct alkenyl C–H functionalization of cyclic enamines with carboxylic acids via Rh catalysis assisted by hydrogen bonding

Enamines and enamides are important synthetic intermediates.