Visible-Light-Driven Iron-Promoted Thiocarboxylation of Styrenes and Acrylates with CO2

Alkene functionalization for the stereospecific synthesis of substituted aziridines by visible-light photoredox catalysis

A novel strategy involving visible-light-induced functionalization of alkenes for the stereospecific synthesis of substituted aziridines was developed.

Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl C–H bonds in benzamides with CO2

Herein, we report the first Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of unactivated aryl C–H bonds in benzamides under 1 atm of CO₂ to directly afford important phthalimides.

Palladium-catalyzed reductive electrocarboxylation of allyl esters with carbon dioxide

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective electrocarboxylation of homostyrenyl acetates with CO₂ has been successfully developed, providing α-aryl carboxylic acids with good selectivity and yield.

Oxy-Difluoroalkylation of Allylamines with CO2 via Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

A selective oxy-difluoroalkylation of allylamines with carbon dioxide (CO₂) via visible-light photoredox catalysis is reported. These multicomponent reactions are efficient and environmentally friendly to generate a series of important 2-oxazolidinones with functionalized difluoroalkyl groups. The good functional group tolerance, broad substrate scope, easy scalability, mild reaction conditions, and facile functionalization of products provide great potential for application in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Highly Regio- and Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Reductive Hydroxymethylation of Styrenes and 1,3-Dienes with CO2

Herein, we report a highly regio- and enantioselective copper-catalyzed reductive hydroxymethylation of styrenes and 1,3-dienes with 1 atm of CO₂. Diverse important chiral homobenzylic alcohols were readily prepared from styrenes. Moreover, a variety of 1,3-dienes also were converted to chiral homoallylic alcohols with high yields and excellent regio-, enantio-, and Z/E-selectivities. The utility of this transformation was demonstrated by a broad range of styrenes and 1,3-dienes, facile product modification, and synthesis of bioactive compounds (R)-(-)-curcumene and (S)-(+)-ibuprofen. Mechanistic studies demonstrated the carboxylation of phenylethylcopper complexes with CO₂ as one key step.